Effects of oral adsorbent on experimental uremic rats

Abstract

The effect of a new oral adsorbent (AST-120) was examined in uremic rats induced by twostage reduction of the kidney mass, by assessing an abnormal peak "2a" on HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), which has been regarded as a toxin peak. In vitro, the adsorbent showed adsorption of 2a which appeared in the bile of uremic rats. Uremic rats fed with AST-120 showed significantly lower blood creatinine and 2a levels with higherr values for both the creatinine clearance (Ccr) and the renal clearance of 2a (C2a), as compared to control (pair-fed) rats. Intermittent administration of AST-120 (3 weeks) also produced a significant decrease in blood creatinine and 2a levels and an increase in Ccr and C2a. More strikingly, the progressive destructive changes of the glomeruli were prevented in rats fed with AST-120. These results suggest that oral administration of AST-120 may prevent the rapid deterioration of residual renal function, presumably by removing some nephrotoxic substances from the G-I tract, which may be included within peak 2a on HPLC.