Possible mechanism of the cardio-renal protective effects of AVE-0991, a non-peptide Mas-receptor agonist, in diabetic rats

Abstract

Hypothesis:This study was designed to investigate the cardio-renal protective effect of AVE-0991, a non-peptide Mas-receptor agonist, and A-779, a Mas-receptor antagonist, in diabetic rats.Materials and methods:Wistar rats treated with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p., once), developed diabetes mellitus after 1 week. After 8 weeks, myocardial functions were assessed by measuring left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), rate of left ventricular pressure development (d p/d tmax), rate of left ventricular pressure decay (d p/d tmin) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) on an isolated Langendorff’s heart preparation. Further, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was measured by using the tail-cuff method. Assessment of renal functions and lipid profile was carried out using a spectrophotometer.Results:The administration of streptozotocin to rats produced persistent hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and hypertension which consequently produced cardiac and renal dysfunction in 8 weeks. AVE0991 treatment produced cardio-renal protective effects, as evidenced by a significant increase in LVDP, d p/d tmax, d p/d tminand a significant decrease in LVEDP, BUN, and protein urea. Further, AVE-0991 treatment for the first time has been shown to reduce dyslipidaemia and produced antihyperglycaemic activity in streptozotocin-treated rats. However, MABP and creatinine clearance remained unaffected with AVE-0991 treatment.Conclusions:AVE-0991 produced cardio-renal protection possibly by improving glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats, independent of its blood pressure lowering action.