Renal-protective effect of non-depressor dose of cicletanine in streptozotocin diabetic rats

Objective To assess the renal benefits of cicletanine (CIC) in diabetic rat s with renal impairment. Methods Hemi-nephrectomized streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar-Kyoto Izmo rats (WKYIzm) (10 weeks old) were randomly assigned to receive vehicle or a low or high dose of CIC (30 or 100 mg/kg per day, orally) for 12 weeks, Results The blood pressure was raised slightly but not significantly in thi s model, An anti-hypertensive effect of CIC was not significantly observed. However, the sub-depressor doses of CIC significantly and dose-dependently decreased urinary albumin excretion, These results were confirmed by morph ological analysis of kidneys in each group of rats, CIC treatment significa ntly and effectively protected against an increase in the percentage of foc al glomerular sclerosis. CIC did not affect urinary and blood glucose conce ntrations at either dose. Conclusions These results suggest that CIC has a renal-protective action, w hich is not related to improvement of diabetes or of high blood pressure in this model. The action might be due to the reduction of intraglomerular ca pillary pressure, although the mechanism remains to be further investigated . J Hypertens 1999, 17:695-700 (C) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.