Abstract
Oral adsorbent (AST-120) reduces blood levels of urea and creatinine in experimental studies. It has also been shown to retard the progression of chronic renal failure in clinical-studies. In the present study, the effect of AST-120 was examined in the rat model of subtotal nephrectomy (sNPX). This experimental model of chronic renal failure is characterized by glomerular hyperfunction, glomerular hypertrophy, increased mesangial trappment of macromolecules and subsequent glomerular sclerosis. We report the effect of AST-120 on glomerular hyperfunction, glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial trappment of macromolecules in the early stage and glomerular function and histology in the late stage of the rat model of sNPX. From 2 days after sNPX, rats were fed regular rat chow with (AST group : AST) or without (control) AST-120. At 2 weeks, iron dextran (ID) was injected intravenously. Three days after the injection, mesangial trappment of ID was largely ameliorated in AST when compared with control (p<0.02). The value of mean planar area of glomerulus (PAmean) in AST was significantly lower than that in control (p<0.05). At 2 and 9 weeks, the values of GFR and RPF in AST were all statistically higher than those in control. At 9 weeks, whereas average glomerular sclerosis index (SI : 0-4 scale) was 1.07 in control, significantly lower SI (0.57) was noted in AST (p<0.05) . Thus, AST-120 has effects on glomerular hypertrophy, increased mes-angial trappmeet of macromoleculus and finally the progression of chronic renal failure in the rat model of sNPX. The effects are not through reducing glomerular hyperfunction. The data indicate that, decreased uremic toxins by AST-120 i. e., improvement of systemic milieu may have effects on glomerular morphology and function.
