Histomorphological Renal Changes in the Offspring of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

Introduction: Maternal diabetes mellitus can adversely affect fetal development and may predispose offspring to metabolic and renal abnormalities.However, early renal structural changes following intrauterine exposure to maternal hyperglycemia remain incompletely characterized.This study evaluated the metabolic and histomorphological effects of maternal diabetes on rat offspring kidneys during the early postnatal period.Methods: This experimental study was conducted using Wistar rats.Diabetes was induced in female rats using streptozotocin before mating.We evaluated offspring of diabetic and nondiabetic mothers during the first and second postnatal weeks.We assessed blood glucose levels and relative kidney weights.Kidney tissues were processed routinely for histopathology.We used hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and periodic acid-Schiff stains to evaluate histopathological changes.Renal morphometric parameters, including glomerular diameter and Bowman's space, were assessed using computer-assisted digital morphometry.Results: Offspring of diabetic mothers showed significantly higher blood glucose levels during both the first and second postnatal weeks compared with controls.Relative kidney weight was also higher in the test group at both time points.Histopathological examination demonstrated focal interstitial lymphocytic infiltration in the cortex and medulla during the first postnatal week, which became more prominent during the second week.Mild cortical tubular atrophy and early interstitial fibrosis with minimal collagen deposition were observed during the second week.Morphometric analysis showed significantly increased glomerular diameter and reduced Bowman's space in the test group compared with controls during both postnatal weeks (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Maternal diabetes was associated with persistent hyperglycemia, increased relative kidney weight, and early structural alterations in the kidneys of rat offspring.The progressive inflammatory, tubular, fibrotic, and glomerular changes observed during the early postnatal period suggest that maternal hyperglycemia may adversely influence renal development and potentially increase susceptibility to laterlife renal complications.