EFFECTS OF THE PGI(2) ANALOG BERAPROST SODIUM ON GLOMERULAR PROSTANOID SYNTHESIS IN RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES

A study of albuminuria, creatinine clearance (CCr) and blood pressure of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with or without treatmen t by a prostacyclin (PGI(2)) analog, beraprost sodium (BPS), is descri bed. Glomerular prostanoid synthesis was measured by gas chromatograph y (GC) mass spectrometry. Renal specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff were examined by light microscopy. Mea n values of albuminuria in BPS-treated diabetic rats were significantl y decreased compared with those in nontreated diabetic rats. The ratio of kidney to body weight in the BPS-treated diabetic rats was signifi cantly lower than that in the nontreated diabetic rats. Levels of CCr and blood pressure were decreased in diabetic rats after the treatment with BPS. GC mass spectrometry showed that BPS did not influence the glomerular synthesis of PGI(2) and TXB(2). No histologic injury in the renal tissues was observed in the diabetic rats with or without BPS t reatment. We concluded that BPS (PGI(2) analog) might decrease the lev els of urinary albumin excretion and CCr due to its vasodilating effec ts in the early phase of STZ-induced diabetes in rats.