The effect of diminazene, an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activator, on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease in rats

Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2023 Apr;37(2):235-244. doi: 10.1111/fcp.12845. Epub 2022 Nov 7.

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of diminazene, lisinopril, or valsartan on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in rats. The animals were divided into five groups (n = 6). The first and second groups received normal diet and adenine in the feed at a dose of 0.25% w/w for 35 days, respectively. The third, fourth, and fifth groups were treated as the second group but also received diminazene (15 mg/kg/day), lisinopril (10 mg/kg/day), and valsartan (30 mg/kg/day), respectively, for 35 days. Adenine significantly increased plasma urea, creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid. In addition, adenine increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio and N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)/creatinine ratio and reduced creatinine clearance. Adenine also significantly increased the plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-1beta [IL-1β]) and significantly reduced antioxidant indices (catalase, glutathione reductase [GR], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]). Histopathologically, renal tissue from adenine-treated rats showed necrosis of renal tubules, tubular casts, shrunken glomeruli, and increased renal fibrosis. All drugs ameliorated adenine-induced biochemical and histopathological changes. The protective effect of the three drugs used is, at least partially, due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Our results show that administration of diminazene, lisinopril, or valsartan had a comparable effect on the reversal of the biochemical and histopathological indices of adenine-induced CKD in rats.

Keywords: ACE2 activator; adenine; chronic kidney disease; diminazene; lisinopril; valsartan.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / toxicity
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / pharmacology
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Creatinine
  • Diminazene* / adverse effects
  • Kidney
  • Lisinopril / adverse effects
  • Rats
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / chemically induced
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Diminazene
  • Adenine
  • Creatinine
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Lisinopril
  • Antioxidants