O J Owolabi and E K I Omogbai
Levcromakalim, a potassium channel activator reduces blood pressure and hence used in the management of hypertension, known to co-exist with diabetes mellitus; hence its effect on creatinine, urea and 24 hour urine output was investigated in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats.
The rats were given levcromakalim (75 μg/kg/day) for 4 consecutive weeks, thereafter experimental diabetes mellitus was induced using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg).The rats were randomly placed into groups of 5 each and transferred to metabolic cages after treatment with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), metformin (350 mg/kg) and insulin (5, 10, 20 and 40 i.u/kg).
The following parameters were investigated 24 hours after drug administration: plasma creatinine and urea, urine creatinine and urea, creatinine clearance and the 24 h urine volume.
The result points to a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the 24 h urine volume on treatment with levcromakalim in diabetic rats in comparison with those diabetic not treated with levcromakalim.
A significant reduction (p<0.05) of the plasma creatinine was also noted on treatment with levcromakalim in the diabetic rats, while an increase in urine creatinine was observed when compared with those not treated. Levcromakalim also significantly (p<0.05) increased the creatinine clearance of normal rats, those of the diabetic rats were not significant.
In conclusion treatment with levcromakalim affords a renoprotective effect to diabetic and normal rats as evident from its effect on plasma creatinine and the creatinine clearance. Secondly it also corrects polyuria a known symptom of diabetes mellitus.