title: Glycosaminoglycans prevent morphological renal alterations and albuminuria in diabetic rats.
abstract: Abnormal glycosaminoglycan metabolism is involved in the onset of anatomo-functional derangements in diabetic nephropathy, and determines the loss of glomerular basement membrane anionic charges leading to albuminuria. Glycosaminoglycan administration was shown to increase the negative electrical potential of the vessel wall, inhibit mesangial cell proliferation, which is an anatomical hallmark of diabetic nephropathy, and slow down the progression to uremia in subtotally nephrectomized rats, a model that shares some pathogenetic key events with diabetic nephropathy. Based on these considerations, we verified the effect of exogenous glycosaminoglycans on renal involvement in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Long-term administration of two glycosaminoglycans (low-molecular weight heparin and dermatan sulphate) prevented glomerular basement membrane thickening, glomerular anionic charge reduction, as well as the onset of albuminuria without affecting glomerular filtration rate and metabolic control of the disease. Our data demonstrate that the long-term administration of glycosaminoglycans has a favorable effect on morphological and functional renal abnormalities in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Internal Medicine and Pathology, University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambaro
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Cavazzana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borsatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baggio
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate