Oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in kidney have been suggested as contributing factors in the development and complication of diabetes especially in
diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study investigated the effects of
trigonelline (TG) on the renal functional, morphological changes and renal apoptosis in neonatal diabetic rats, a model of
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus was induced in one day old neonatal Wistar rat pups by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of
streptozotocin (STZ) (50mg/kg) and monitored for 16 weeks thereafter. The diabetic rats were divided as follows: the nSTZ diabetic group, the TG (50mg/kg) treated diabetic group, and the TG (100mg/kg) treated diabetic group. The age matched nondiabetic group received an injection of
citrate buffer (0.1M, pH4.5). At the end kidney samples were taken for light microscopic examinations. The levels of serum
creatinine and BUN were significantly low in TG (100mg/kg) treated diabetic rats. Glomerular filtration rate was improved in TG treated rats. The activities of
antioxidant enzyme and membrane bound
enzyme were decreased and the levels of
tumor necrotic factor (TNF-α) and
hydroxyproline content were increased in renal tissues of the diabetic group. TG (100mg/kg/day) treatment for a period of 4 weeks showed significant ameliorative effects on all the biochemical parameters studied. Biochemical findings were supported by histological studies. The degenerative changes in kidney tissue and
fibrosis were alleviated in the TG treated groups. These results suggested that TG might have a significant role in alleviating kidney damage in nSTZ-diabetic rats.