Hyaluronan (HA) is a negatively charged extracellular matrix (ECM) component with water-attracting properties. It is the dominating ECM component in the renal medullary interstitium, where the amount changes in relation to hydration status: it increases during hydration and decreases during dehydration. It has, therefore, been suggested that HA participates in the regulation of renal fluid handling by changing the permeability properties of the interstitial space. This thesis investigates potential mechanisms for such a role in renal fluid regulation.

The results demonstrate that the high renal HA content of late nephrogenesis decreases during the completion of kidney development in the rat, which takes place in the neonatal period. The heterogenous distribution of HA is mainly established during the first three weeks after birth. On day 21, the HA content is similar to that in the adult rat. The process is dependent on normal Ang II function. It primarily involves a reduction of HA synthase 2 expression and an increase of medullary hyaluronidase 1. 

The cortical accumulation of HA that results from neonatal ACE inhibition can partly explain the pathological condition of the adult kidney, which causes reduced urinary concentration ability and tubulointerstitial inflammation.

It is possible to reduce renomedullary HA with the HA synthesis inhibitor 4-MU, and the kidney’s ability to respond to a hydration challenge will then be suppressed, without affecting GFR. 

The investigation of renomedullary interstitial cells (RMIC) in culture, shows that media osmolality and hormones of central importance for body fluid homeostasis, such as angiotensin II, ADH and endothelin, affect HA turnover through their effect on the RMICs, in a manner comparable to that found in vivo during changes in hydration status. 

In established streptozotocin-induced diabetes, HA is regionally accumulated in the kidney, proteinuria and polyuria, reduced urine osmolality, and reduced response to ADH V₂ activation will occur. As opposed to the proteinuria, the HA accumulation is not sensitive to mTOR inhibition, suggesting an alternate pathway compared to other ECM components 

Taken together, the data suggest that during normal physiological conditions, renomedullary interstitial HA participates in renal fluid handling by affecting the interstitial prerequisites for fluid flux across the interstitial space. This is possible due to the water-attracting and physicochemical properties of this glycosaminoglycan. During pathological conditions, such as diabetes, the elevated interstitial HA can contribute to the defective kidney function, due to the proinflammatory and water-attracting properties of HA.