Octreotide administration in diabetic rats: effects on renal function and morphology

The effects of synthetic somatostatin analogue, octreotide, on fractional k idney weight (FKW), urinary protein excretion (UPE), creatinine clearance ( Cl-cre) and renal morphological changes were studied in alloxan-diabetic an d non-diabetic rats comparatively. Diabetic rats were heated with twice dai ly s.c. injections of octreotide (2 x 2.5 mu g) for 90 days. Untreated diab etic and non-diabetic animals were used as reference. The body weights and blood glucose levels of the animals were followed-up throughout the study p eriod. After 90 days, FKW and renal morphology were evaluated. When compare d to octreotide-treated diabetic group (O-D: 1.96 +/- 0.23), normal control rats (NC: 1.24 +/- 0.05) showed a lower FKW (P < 0.05) and the FKW value o f non-treated diabetic controls (DC: 2.74 +/- 0.17) were significantly high er (P < 0.05). Cl-cre values were calculated at 45th and 90th days. At the 45th day, Cl-cre values (ml/min) of O-D group (0.75 +/- 0.06) and NC group (0.56 +/- 0.09) were significantly lower than non-treated DC group (1.05 +/ - 0.1) (P < 0.05). However, at the 90th day no significant difference in Cl -cre was observed. At the 45th day, UPE (mg/dl/day) was significantly highe r in non-treated DC group (1000.45 +/- 392.38) when compared to NC group (2 36 +/- 36.59) (P < 0.005) and UPE levels of O-D group were only slightly lo wer than that of non-treated diabetic group. At the 90th day, no significan t beneficial effect of octreotide on UPE was observed. Octreotide did not p revent the histopathological changes related to diabetes. In conclusion, 5 mu g/day octreotide administrations to diabetic rats for 90 days prevented renal weight increase but:this treatment were insufficient to decrease the histopathological changes, UPE and increased Cl-cre. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.