EFFECT OF LANREOTIDE ON LOCAL KIDNEY IGF-I AND RENAL GROWTH IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES IN THE RAT

Initial diabetic renal hypertrophy is preceded by a transient increase in kidney insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). In the present study streptozotocin-diabetic rats were treated with a new somatostatin anal ogue (lanreotide), insulin or placebo for 7 days and compared to non-d iabetic control rats. Kidney IGF-I changes were examined in the renal cortex, medulla, and whole kidney homogenates. The renal cortex contai ned approximately 5.5 times more IGF-I than the renal medulla (p < 0.0 1); further, IGF-I increased transiently and more pronouncedly in the renal cortex compared to the medulla. Lanreotide treatment significant ly inhibited diabetic renal and glomerular growth compared to placebo- treated diabetic rats. Further, lanreotide treatment was followed by a significantly lower medulla IGF-I by day 2, while lanreotide had no e ffect on cortex IGF-I accumulation. In conclusion, IGF-I accumulated t ransiently and was more pronounced in the renal cortex compared to the renal medulla and, further, lanreotide prevented diabetic renal and g lomerular growth bringing new evidence that intervention with somatost atin analogues may have a role in the prevention of experimental diabe tic kidney disease.