Protective effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate on kidney tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective: In this study, we investigated protective effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which is an antioxidant and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor, on nephropathy in diabetic rat model. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into 3 groups. Control group (n=8) received no treatment; diabetes group (n=10) received single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg) to induce experimental diabetes; and PDTC group (n=10) received i.p. 100 μL/day PDTC for a total of 10 weeks following diabetes induction with i.p. STZ injection. At the end of the study kidneys were excised from sacrificed rats, and glomerular and tubular changes were examined under light microscopy. Immunohistochemically, NF-κB (p65) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were evaluated in the renal cortex. Results: In diabetes group, immunohistochemical NF-κB expression was higher than control and PDTC groups (p<0.05). In PDTC group, NF-κB expression level was very similar to control group, but less than diabetes group (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical iNOS expression was less in control group. In PDTC group, iNOS expression was more intense than control group (p<0.05), but less than that in diabetes group (p<0.05). Conclusion: PDTC has a protective effect on renal injury secondary to diabetes and can be a treatment option for patients with diabetic nephropathy.