TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF ZOFENOPRIL (ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITOR) IN TYPE 2 DIABETES INDUCED NEPHROPATHY IN RATS

Abstract

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of Zofenopril (ACE inhibitor) in type 2 diabetes induced nephropathy in rats. Type 2 diabetes was induced by administering high-fat-diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (35mg/kg; i.p.) single dose. The rats with blood glucose levels more than 250mg/dl were selected as diabetic and taken for further studies. Diabetic rats were treated with two different doses of Zofenopril (1mg/kg and 10 mg/kg/day) p.o. for 21 days while continuing on HFD. Various parameters such as blood glucose, total cholesterol, serum creatinine, urine albumin excretion and markers of oxidative stress such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured. Treatment of Zofenopril (1mg/kg and 10mg/kg) in diabetic rats orally for 21 days significantly decreased total cholesterol, serum creatinine, and urine albumin levels when compared with diabetic control rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with Zofenopril 1mg/kg and 10mg/kg) orally for 21 days, showed less significant decrease in blood glucose levels when compared to diabetic control rats. Zofenopril treatment also significantly decreased the kidney TBARS levels, while increasing the GSH levels in diabetic rats. These findings suggest that Zofenopril has beneficial effects in preventing the progression of diabetes induced nephropathy in rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Zofenopril can be used to prevent progression of diabetes induced nephropathy. Administration of Zofenopril improves renal function and ameliorates renal histopathological changes in HFD fed, low dose STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats; possibly by improvement in lipid metabolism and inhibition of lipid peroxidation process.