The Ameliorative Effect of Pectin-Insulin Patch on Renal Injury in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Aims: Renal damage and dysfunction is attributed to sustained hyperglycaemia in overt diabetes. Subcutaneous insulin injections are beneficial in delaying the progression of renal dysfunction and damage in diabetics. However, the current mode of administration is associated with severe undesirable effects. In this study, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of pectin-insulin dermal patches on renal dysfunction in diabetes. Methods: Pectin-insulin patches (20.0, 40.8 and 82.9 μg/kg) were applied on the skin of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, thrice daily for 5 weeks. Blood glucose concentration, blood pressure and urine output volume were recorded on week 5 after which the animals were sacrificed after which the kidneys and plasma were collected. Kidney nephrin expression and urinary nephrin concentration, albumin excretion rate (AER), creatinine clearance (CC) and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were assessed. Results: Patch application resulted in reduced blood glucose concentration and blood pressure. Furthermore, pectin-insulin patch treatment resulted in increased kidney nephrin expression and reduced urinary nephrin concentration. AER, CC ACR were also reduced post patch application. Conclusions: The application of pectin-insulin patch limited diabetes associated kidney damaged and improved kidney function. These observations suggest that pectin-insulin patches may ameliorate kidney dysfunction that is associated with chronic subcutaneous insulin administration.