Oxidative stress and intraerythrocytic concentrations of sodium and potassium in diabetic dogs.

Oxidative stress parameters; thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (RBC-TBARS), catalase (RBC-CAT) and reduced glutathione (RBC-GSH) and the intraerythrocytic concentrations of electrolytes; sodium and potassium (RBC-Na and RBC-K) were determined in 18 well- controlled (WC) and 22 poorly-controlled diabetic mellitus (DM). Dogs with DM had significant higher blood glucose concentration (P < 0.001), haemoglobin A1c (P < 0.01) and fructosamine (P < 0.001) compared to normal healthy dogs (n = 19). Diabetic dogs in both groups had higher RBC-CAT (P < 0.05) while RBC-TBARS were higher significantly only in poorly-controlled DM group (P < 0.05). The RBC-K was significantly higher in both DM groups (P < 0.001). No changes in RBC-GSH and RBC-Na were found between DM and control healthy dogs. By linear regression analysis, the relationship were found between degree of diabetic mellitus and RBC-CAT, RBC-TBARS, RBC-Na and RBC-K. The relationship was also found between oxidative stress parameters and intraerythrocytic K+. The results suggest that in diabetic dogs, oxidative stress occurs which related to the severity of disease and may affect potassium homeostasis.

Comparison of dipyridamole and fosinopril on renal progression in nephrectomized rats.

There is evidence to suggest that antiplatelet aggregation and inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme will attenuate the progression of renal disease. In the present study, dipyridamole (DPM; 30 mg/kg per day, p.o.) or fosinopril (FOS; 20 mg/kg per day, p.o.) was given to rats for 5 weeks starting immediately after renal mass reduction (right uninephrectomy and ligation of approximately two-thirds of the blood supply to the left kidney). Renal mass reduction caused increased mean arterial blood pressure, reduced effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), azotemia and proteinuria. Neither proteinuria nor hypertension was affected by DPM, although renal function improved markedly. Rats receiving FOS showed normalization of blood pressure with a significant increase in both ERPF and GFR, along with a lower degree of proteinuria. A histological examination of the remnant kidney detected the presence of vasodilation with a lower degree of podocyte swelling in both treatment groups, with a remarkable effect in the FOS group. These data indicate that both FOS and DPM attenuate the progression of glomerular disease associated with renal mass reduction in rats. However, FOS was more beneficial than DPM because it reduced proteinuria and lowered blood pressure.