Effects of pravastatin or 12/15 lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors on indices of diabetic nephropathy in an experimental model of diabetic renal disease

OBJECTIVE: To attenuate the effects of early streptozotocin-induced diabetes on renal functions through supplementation with either pravastatin or 12/15-lipoxygenase pathway inhibitors.

METHODS: The study was carried out at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2010 to November 2011. Rats were assigned to control rats (group I) receiving vehicle; normoalbuminuric diabetic rats receiving vehicle (group IIa), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) (group IIb), NDGA + insulin (group IIc), pravastatin (group IId) or pravastatin + insulin (group IIe); and microalbuminuric diabetic rats receiving vehicle (group IIIa), NDGA (group IIIb), NDGA + insulin (group IIIc), pravastatin (group IIId) or pravastatin + insulin (group IIIe). The NDGA and pravastatin were administered for 4 months. At the end of the experiment, renal function tests were measured and blood samples were analyzed.

RESULTS: Both NDGA and pravastatin had favorable effects on renal function to the same extent, and more favorable effects when diabetes was controlled. Indices of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and oxidative stress were reduced by NDGA or pravastatin therapy with no statistical difference between the 2 lines of therapy.

CONCLUSION: Pravastatin and 12/15-lipoxygenase pathway inhibitor (NDGA) have beneficial effects on streptozotocin-induced DN. The findings may provide insight into the feasibility of their clinical use as a complementary therapy for the prevention/treatment of DN.