biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)Prommer HUChronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with excessive mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial dysfunction, an early manifestation of CVD, is consistently observed in CKD patients and might be linked to structural defects of the microcirculation including microvascular rarefaction. However, patterns of microvascular rarefaction in CKD and their relation to functional deficits in perfusion and oxygen delivery are currently unknown. In this in-vivo microscopy study of the cremaster muscle microcirculation in BALB/c mice with moderate to severe uremia, we show in two experimental models (adenine feeding or subtotal nephrectomy), that serum urea levels associate incrementally with a distinct microangiopathy. Structural changes were characterized by a heterogeneous pattern oScientific reports5317https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5871820biostudies-literatureChronic kidney disease induces a systemic microangiopathy, tissue hypoxia and dysfunctional angiogenesis.PMC5871820Sommer KNasser HReglin Bvon Websky KGuimaraes PPrommer HUPries ARFreise CMaurer JSamapati RQuerfeld UfalseChronic kidney disease induces a systemic microangiopathy, tissue hypoxia and dysfunctional angiogenesis.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with excessive mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial dysfunction, an early manifestation of CVD, is consistently observed in CKD patients and might be linked to structural defects of the microcirculation including microvascular rarefaction. However, patterns of microvascular rarefaction in CKD and their relation to functional deficits in perfusion and oxygen delivery are currently unknown. In this in-vivo microscopy study of the cremaster muscle microcirculation in BALB/c mice with moderate to severe uremia, we show in two experimental models (adenine feeding or subtotal nephrectomy), that serum urea levels associate incrementally with a distinct microangiopathy. Structural changes were characterized by a heterogeneous pattern o2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Mar2025-04-04T09:04:54.146Z2019-03-26T23:23:22ZS-EPMC58718202959322810.1038/s41598-018-23663-1