AMINOGUANIDINE PROLONGS SURVIVAL IN AZOTEMIC-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Toxic effects of hyperglycemia-induced advanced glycosylated end produ cts (AGEs) may explain some vasculopathic complications of diabetes. A minoguanidine, a known inhibitor of AGE formation, was administered by gavage to Sprague-Dawley streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats made az otemic by surgical reduction of renal mass, All rats became hyperglyce mic. Renal ablation caused renal insufficiency, as evidenced by marked ly reduced endogenous creatinine clearances at days 7 and 14. Aminogua nidine-treated rats had significantly (P < 0.04) superior survival to that of untreated azotemic diabetic rats. We infer from the extended l ife in a rat model of uremia in diabetic nephropathy that aminoguanidi ne may prove beneficial in human diabetes. (C) 1997 by the National Ki dney Foundation, Inc.