REDUCED GLOMERULAR HYPERTROPHY BY SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG, SMS-201-995, IN THE SUBTOTAL NEPHRECTOMIZED RATS FED HIGH-PROTEIN MEALS

The chronic effects of SMS 201-995 (SMS), a long-acting somatostatin analog, on the progression of renal failure in 3/4 subtotal nephrectomized rats (NPX) fed high protein meals (40% protein) were investigated. Rats were divided into four groups, [i.e., normal control (C) (n = 6), NPX control (NPX-C) (7), NPX treated with SMS 1.0-mu-g/day (SMS-1.0) (7) and SMS-10.0 (7)]. SMS was continuously administered s.c. via an osmotically driven pump for 8 weeks. SMS had no significant changes in either body weight or hematocrit levels for NPX groups. Systolic blood pressure in NPX rats showed similar elevations, but SMS had no distinct effect on it for them. Significant changes in urine volume, creatinine clearance, and urinary protein excretion were not obtained among the NPX rats. No significant changes of glomerular sclerosis index was found among the NPX rats. Mean planar area of glomeruli in NPX rats was significantly larger than in normal control rats. NPX treated with both 1.0 and 10.0-mu-g/day SMS had statistically smaller values compared with NPX control rats. It was concluded that the chronic administration of SMS reduced glomerular hypertrophy without altering renal functions in this experimental model.