The effect of sildenafil on rats with adenine-Induced chronic kidney disease.

The erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil has cardiopulmonary protective actions, and a nephroprotective action in cisplatin and ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury. Here, we assessed its possible ameliorative action in a model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) using adenine feeding. Eight groups of rats were treated with saline (controls), adenine (0.25% w/w in feed daily for 5 weeks), and oral sildenafil (0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg), either alone, or concomitantly with adenine. Urine was collected 24 h after the end of the treatments from all rats and blood pressure measured, followed by collection of blood and kidneys for the measurement of several functional, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Adenine treatment reduced body weight, creatinine renal clearance, and increased water intake and urine output, as well as the plasma concentrations of urea and creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase activity, and albumin in urine. Adenine also increased the concentrations of the uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate, uric acid and phosphate, and a number of proteins and inflammatory cytokines, and decreased that of several anti - oxidant indices. Renal histopathological markers of damage (inflammation and fibrosis) were significantly increased by adenine. Sildenafil, given simultaneously with adenine, induced a dose - dependent improvements in most of the above parameters, suggesting its possible use as adjunct treatment for CKD in humans.

Development of a new model for the induction of chronic kidney disease via intraperitoneal adenine administration, and the effect of treatment with gum acacia thereon.

Oral adenine (0.75% w/w in feed), is an established model for human chronic kidney disease (CKD). Gum acacia (GA) has been shown to be a nephroprotective agent in this model. Here we aimed at developing a new adenine-induced CKD model in rats via a systemic route (intraperitoneal, i.p.) and to test it with GA to obviate the possibility of a physical interaction between GA and adenine in the gut. Adenine was injected i.p. (50 or 100 mg/Kg for four weeks), and GA was given concomitantly in drinking water at a concentration of 15%, w/v. Several plasma and urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured and the renal damage was assessed histopathologically. Adenine, at the two given i.p. doses, significantly reduced body weight, and increased relative kidney weight, water intake and urine output. It dose-dependently increased plasma and urinary inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, and caused morphological and histological damage resembling that which has been reported with oral adenine. Concomitant treatment with GA significantly mitigated almost all the above measured indices. Administration of adenine i.p. induced CKD signs very similar to those induced by oral adenine. Therefore, this new model is quicker, more practical and accurate than the original (oral) model. GA ameliorates the CKD effects caused by adenine given i.p. suggesting that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties possessed by oral GA are the main mechanism for its salutary action in adenine-induced CKD, an action that is independent of its possible interaction with adenine in the gut.

Does swimming exercise affect experimental chronic kidney disease in rats treated with gum acacia?

Different modes of exercise are reported to be beneficial in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Similar benefits have also been ascribed to the dietary supplement gum acacia (GA). Using several physiological, biochemical, immunological, and histopathological measurements, we assessed the effect of swimming exercise (SE) on adenine-induced CKD, and tested whether SE would influence the salutary action of GA in rats with CKD. Eight groups of rats were used, the first four of which were fed normal chow for 5 weeks, feed mixed with adenine (0.25% w/w) to induce CKD, GA in the drinking water (15% w/v), or were given adenine plus GA, as above. Another four groups were similarly treated, but were subjected to SE during the experimental period, while the first four groups remained sedentary. The pre-SE program lasted for four days (before the start of the experimental treatments), during which the rats were made to swim for 5 to 10 min, and then gradually extended to 20 min per day. Thereafter, the rats in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th groups started to receive their respective treatments, and were subjected to SE three days a week for 45 min each. Adenine induced the typical signs of CKD as confirmed by histopathology, and the other measurements, and GA significantly ameliorated all these signs. SE did not affect the salutary action of GA on renal histology, but it partially improved some of the above biochemical and physiological analytes, suggesting that addition of this mode of exercise to GA supplementation may improve further the benefits of GA supplementation.