UUO Model – Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
Rodent model for renal fibrosis and Chronic Kidney Disease drug screening
Unlock the anti-fibrotic potential of your compounds with our Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction (UUO) model, performed in both mice and rats. UUO reproduces the key pathological hallmarks of Chronic Kidney Disease, interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and inflammatory cell infiltration, in a fast, reproducible 1–2 week study window.
Why Choose Our UUO Model?
- Proven Efficacy: Consistently reliable results, validated for first proof-of-concept in kidney fibrosis.
- Mouse & rat flexibility: Performed in C57Bl/6J mice or Sprague-Dawley rats, matched to your study design and compound requirements.
- Optimized test duration: 1-2 weeks, streamlining in vivo screening without compromising accuracy.
- Comprehensive analysis: Histopathology, biochemistry, and gene expression profiling from a single cohort.
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Study Design & Protocol
| Group | Species | Procedure | Treatment | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sham | Mouse or rat | Sham surgery | Vehicle | 7–14 days |
| UUO + Vehicle | Mouse or rat | Unilateral ureteral ligation | Vehicle | 7–14 days |
| UUO + Reference compound | Mouse or rat | Unilateral ureteral ligation | Reference antifibrotic | 7–14 days |
| UUO + Test compound(s) | Mouse or rat | Unilateral ureteral ligation | Test article, dose-ranging | 7–14 days |
Assay readouts
| Category | Readout / Marker | Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Histopathology | Interstitial fibrosis quantification | Sirius Red staining |
| Collagen deposition | Masson’s Trichrome staining | |
| Tubular atrophy / injury | H&E staining | |
| Fibrosis markers | α-SMA (myofibroblast activation) | IHC / Western blot / qPCR |
| TGF-β1 expression | Gene expression (qPCR) / Dosage (ELISA) | |
| Fibronectin | IHC / Gene expression (qPCR) | |
| Inflammatory | Inflammatory cell infiltration | IHC (F4/80, NFkB) |
Frequently Asked Questions – UUO Model
UUO produces rapid tubulointerstitial fibrosis through surgical obstruction in 1 to 2 weeks, which makes it suited to early proof-of-concept, but it is not a metabolic setting. The UNx/STZ model builds fibrosis on a diabetic background with albuminuria and a longer treatment window, which suits candidates targeting diabetic kidney disease.
NEPHRIX Biosolutions performs the UUO model in C57Bl/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats, allowing flexibility depending on your study design and compound requirements.
The UUO model has a test duration of 1 to 2 weeks, making it one of the fastest in vivo fibrosis models available for early-stage compound screening.
Our UUO model provides a comprehensive set of readouts including histopathology (Sirius Red, Masson’s Trichrome), fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen deposition), inflammatory markers, and gene expression profiling (TGF-β1, fibronectin). Biochemical analyses are also available upon request.
Yes, the UUO model is widely used for first proof-of-concept (PoC) evaluation of antifibrotic compounds. Its rapid progression and well-characterized endpoints make it ideal for early-stage drug development and Go/No-Go decisions.