Graciano ML, Mitchell KD. Imatinib ameliorates renal morphological changes in Cyp1a1-Ren2 transgenic rats with inducible ANG II-dependent malignant hypertension. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 302: F60 -F69, 2012. First published October 5, 2011 doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00218.2011.-The present study was performed to assess the effects of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate on the renal morphological changes occurring during the development of malignant hypertension in transgenic rats with inducible expression of the Ren2 gene [TGR(Cyp1a1Ren2)]. Arterial blood pressure was measured by radiotelemetry in male Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats during control conditions and during dietary administration of indole-3-carbinol (I3C; 0.3%) for 14 days to induce malignant hypertension. Rats induced with I3C (n ϭ 5) had higher mean arterial pressures (178 Ϯ 4 vs. 109 Ϯ 2 mmHg, P Ͻ 0.001) and increased urinary albumin excretion (Ualb; 13 Ϯ 5 vs. 0.6 Ϯ 0.2 mg/day) compared with noninduced rats (n ϭ 5). Chronic administration of imatinib (60 mg·kg Ϫ1 ·day Ϫ1 in drinking water, n ϭ 5) did not alter the magnitude of the hypertension (176 Ϯ 8 mmHg) but prevented the increase in Ualb (1.6 Ϯ 0.3 mg/day). Quantitative analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen using immunohistochemistry demonstrated increased proliferating cell number in cortical tubules (38 Ϯ 5 vs. 18 Ϯ 1 cells/mm 2 ) and cortical interstitium (40 Ϯ 7 vs. 13 Ϯ 6 cells/mm 2 ) of hypertensive rat kidneys. Renal cortical fibrosis evaluated by picrosirius red staining showed increased collagen deposition in kidneys of the hypertensive rats (1.6 Ϯ 0.1 vs. 0.4 Ϯ 0.1% of cortical area). Imatinib attenuated the increase in proliferating cell number in cortical tubules and interstitium (22 Ϯ 5 vs. 38 Ϯ 5 and 22 Ϯ 6 vs. 40 Ϯ 7 cells/mm 2 , respectively) and reduced the degree of collagen deposition (0.8 Ϯ 0.2 vs. 1.6 Ϯ 0.1%) in the kidneys of hypertensive rats. These findings demonstrate that the renal pathological changes that occur during the development of malignant hypertension in Cyp1a1-Ren2 rats involve activation of PDGF receptor kinase.kidney; immunohistochemistry; renin-angiotensin system; renal pathology; peptide hormones ANG II-DEPENDENT HYPERTENSION is characterized by increases in intrarenal ANG II levels, renal functional derangements, augmented tubular sodium reabsorptive capability, and development of progressive injury to several organs and tissues, including heart, kidney, and blood vessels (11,12,22,30,35,41,49,56,64,70). In contrast, elevated intrarenal ANG II levels alone in the absence of elevated arterial pressure are not associated with perceptible renal injury. Thus, ANG II-induced renal functional and morphological derangements usually occur in a setting of elevated arterial pressure or associated with other pathophysiological conditions such as diabetes mellitus (22,27,30,48,49,59,60,64,66,70). These findings indicate that elevated intrarenal ANG II levels alone are insufficient to cause derangements in renal hemodyna...