WCN26-8459 Sglt2 deletion attenuates cardiorenal damage but not stroke or mortality in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats

Methods: Renal magnetic resonance imaging was performed on a 1.5-T scanner at four time points: baseline (at biopsy), 2 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters-mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD)-were quantified in cortical and medullary regions using manually placed regions of interest.Because the biopsy was performed on the right kidney, DTI parameters were consistently measured in the left kidney to avoid procedure-related artifacts.DTI metrics were processed and calculated using DSI Studio (http://dsi-studio.labsolver.org),ensuring reproducibility of parameter estimation.Serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and complement C3 were measured concurrently.Statistical analysis was performed with the Friedman test and Dunn's post-hoc correction.Results: eGFR and complement C3 normalized by 6 months and remained stable thereafter, while urinalysis was consistently normal.In contrast, medullary DTI parameters exhibited a biphasic course: MD, AD, and RD were elevated at baseline, decreased below baseline at 6 months, and increased again at 1 year, whereas cortical parameters showed only mild, transient alterations.Medullary results are summarized in Table 1, which integrates clinical (eGFR, C3) and imaging (MD, AD, RD) parameters.These biphasic changes were statistically significant compared with baseline values.