Changes in the immunohistochemical expression of nephrin protein in renal corpuscle of rats in response to sleep disturbance

Abstract

Sleep is an essential health requirement; human body needs sufficient amount and quality of sleep to ensure its health. Sleep disturbance led to deterioration in renal functions. This study aimed to asses effect of sleep disturbance on nephrin protein in renal corpuscle. A sample of thirty adult male albino rats, subjected to sleep disturbance by light, divided into three groups; control group with normal sleep rhythm of 12–12 h dark- light phases, group A: subjected to interruption of sleep by light at three intervals, group B: rats were exposed to a reduction in sleep time by continuous light stimulation for 7 h. Animals were sacrificed by euthanasia, their kidneys were dissected and prepared for paraffin, sections stained for Nephrin protein, and the immunohistochemical intensity was quantified by Aperio Image Scope analysis software. This study showed variations in the effect of sleep disturbance patterns by light exposure on nephrin protein expression in renal corpuscles; in the control group a strong patchy distribution of Nephrine in the peripheral region of the glomerulus, group A showed a significant reduction compared to the control group, and group B a weak expression of nephrin protein in the glomerulus, with significant changes between group B and group A, but no significant changes between group B and control. These changes reflect that sleep disturbance affects the structural integrity of the slit diaphragm and nephrin protein expression, which is considered a novel protein for the slit diaphragm structural integrity, and a sign of podocyte injury.