Arterial embolization using poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gel in a rat kidney model.

Abstract

Aqueous solutions of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) exhibit a liquid-gel transition at physiological pH and temperature. This feature inspired the authors to conduct a study to evaluate the macro- and histological changes of rat kidneys after embolization using either p-GlcNAc gel injection into the renal artery or ligation of the renal artery. The procedures were performed in 46 rats through open abdominal surgeries. Animals were sacrificed at 3 days and at 1, 3, 5, and 8 weeks postoperatively. The results of both macro-observation and histological study showed that p-GlcNAc gels were effective in causing necrosis and subsequent fibrosis in all embolized kidneys. The data indicate that p-GlcNAc gel may have promise as an effective agent for therapeutic embolization.

• Authors: Qian K Kang, Yuehuei H An, Patricia L Moreira, Marina V Demcheva, John N Vournakis
• Journal: The anatomical record. Part A, Discoveries in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology (Anat Rec A Discov Mol Cell Evol Biol) Vol. 284 Issue 1 Pg. 454-9 (May 2005) ISSN: 1552-4884 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15803477 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Polysaccharides
• poly-N-acetyl glucosamine
• Acetylglucosamine

Topics

• Acetylglucosamine (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Embolization, Therapeutic (methods)
• Kidney (drug effects, pathology)
• Models, Animal
• Polysaccharides (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Renal Artery (pathology)
• Renal Artery Obstruction (chemically induced, pathology)