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

The effects of synthetic somatostatin analogue, octreotide, on fractional kidney weight (FKW), urinary protein excretion (UPE), creatinine clearance (Cl(cre)) and renal morphological changes were studied in alloxan-diabetic and non-diabetic rats comparatively. Diabetic rats were treated with twice daily s.c. injections of octreotide (2x2.5 microg) for 90 days. Untreated diabetic and non-diabetic animals were used as reference. The body weights and blood glucose levels of the animals were followed-up throughout the study period. After 90 days, FKW and renal morphology were evaluated. When compared 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 of non-treated diabetic controls (DC: 2.74+/-0. 17) were significantly higher (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 higher in non-treated DC group (1000.45+/-392.38) when compared to NC group (236+/-36.59) (P<0.005) and UPE levels of O-D group were only slightly lower than that of non-treated diabetic group. At the 90th day, no significant beneficial effect of octreotide on UPE was observed. Octreotide did not prevent the histopathological changes related to diabetes. In conclusion, 5 microg/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).