Immunolocalization of sodium-dependentglucose co-transporter 1 and sodium-dependent glucoseco-transporter 2 in chicken’s (Gallus gallus domesticus) kidneys

In homeostasis, which plays an important role in the proper functioning and maintenance of the internal functioning of the body, kidneys play a key role in being responsible for the proper homeostasis of glucose. Among glucose transporters, sodium-dependent glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) have a major role in the kidney's ability to reabsorb glucose. Although the localization of these transporters has been extensively studied in mammals, there are still gaps in knowledge of the localization of SGLTs in birds of different age groups. The aim of this study was to immunolocalize in kidneys of hen chickens of different ages the sodium-dependent glucose co-transporters SGLT1 and SGLT2, comparing the localization between different age groups. The kidneys derived from 32 hen chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were devided equally into four age groups: 3, 7, 14, and 20 day old broilers, 8 indivuals in each group. The polyclonal primary antibodies Rabbit anti- SGLT1 and Rabbit anti-SGLT2 (Abcam, UK) were used together with the corresponding IHC kit (Abcam, UK). The results were visualized photographically using an AxioCam HRc camera (Germany) connected to a Zeiss Axioplan-2 Imaging microscope (Germany). The study revealed similar immunolocalization of SGLT1 and SGLT2 in the apical part of cells of proximal renal tubules in hen chickens' kidneys in all age groups. Strong staining of SGLT2 was noted also in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the proximal straight and convoluted tubules. Based on our study, the kidney tissue of newly hatched chickens is ready immediately after hatching for glucose reabsorption and transport, similarily to that of three-week-old chicks.