Objective      To determine the effect of adipose triglyceride lipase (

ATGL) gene deletion on the structure and function of kidney in C57BL/6 mice.       Methods      Inbred male Atgl

-/-

and age-matched male Atgl

+/+

littermate mice (C57BL/6) were produced by mating Atgl

+/-

inbred male and female breeders. Mice were divided into control group (Atgl

+/+

mice) and Atgl knockout group (Atgl

-/-

mice). Urine creatinine and urinary albumin concentrations were assessed with ELISA. The structure and ultrastructure of kidney were detected by HE staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Oil red O staining and enzymatic assay were used to assess triglyceride content in the kidney.       Results      The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of Atgl

-/-

mice was significantly higher than that of Atgl

+/+

mice (4 219.0±2 331.8 vs 329.8±175.6 g/mol

P0.05)

but creatinine of the 2 groups remained unchanged (36.7±13.7 vs 32.6±9.2 μmol/L

P0.05). HE staining showed that compared with the control group

swelled renal tubules and shrunk renal capsules were noticeable in Atgl

-/-

mice. Oil red O staining hinted that lipid drops were diffusedly distributed in the glomeruli and renal tubules in Atgl

-/-

mice but not in Atgl

+/+

mice. TEM confirmed this phenomenon and further showed that in kidney of Atgl

-/-

mice

foot processes of podocytes were extensively effaced

and microvilli also fell off and atrophied. The mitochondria in the podocytes and renal tubule cells of Atgl

-/-

mice also showed collapse of internal cristae

which suggested dysfunction of podocytes and renal tubule cells. All the results suggested glomerular filtration barrier and tubular reabsorption dysfunction in Atgl

-/-

mice.       Conclusion      Atgl gene knockout causes accumulation of large lipid droplets in the glomeruli and renal tubules

which leads to structure and function disorder of glomerular filtration barrier and renal tubules.