Olmesartan Medoxomil, An Angiotensin II-Receptor Blocker, Ameliorates Renal Injury In db/db Mice

Abstract

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and also a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Olmesartan medoxomil (OM) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and has been shown to exhibit renoprotective effects on a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. Yet, whether OM affects DN progression and renal injury in db/db mice, a type 2 diabetic murine model, has not been established.

Methods

Wild-type (n = 15) and db/db mice (n = 15) were treated with control saline or OM via oral gavage. The physiological and biochemical parameters were evaluated and histological examinations of kidney specimens were performed.

Results

Compared with saline-treated db/db mice, db/db mice administered with OM showed ameliorated diabetic physiological and biochemical parameters. In addition, OM decreased urinary albumin excretion and plasma creatinine level in db/db mice. Moreover, histologically, OM reduced glomerular hypertrophy and injury, and also ameliorated tubular injury, thus suggesting that OM improves renal function and minimizes renal pathological deterioration in db/db mice.

Conclusion

Our study reveals a beneficial role of OM in ameliorating DN in db/db mice, which is associated with its renoprotective function.

Keywords:

• olmesartan medoxomil
• angiotensin II
• renal injury
• diabetic nephropathy
• db/db mice

Funding

This study was supported in part by grants of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC No.81600529), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (17ykpy64), and Science and Technology Program of Zhuhai, China (20181117E030069).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.