The oral adsorbent AST-120 attenuates the progression of hyperlipidemia and glomerulosclerosis in spontaneous hypercholesterolemic rats (SHCRs)

Abstract

Background. The oral adsorbent, AST-120 Kureha Chemical, has been shown to attenuate the progression of chronic renal failure in rats and humans. Spontaneous hypercholesterolemic male rats, (SHC rats; SHCRs) have been introduced for experimentation because they develop progressive hyperlipidemia and glomerulosclerosis on a cholesterol-free standard diet by their 30th week of life.

Methods. The effects of AST-120 were studied in SHCRs. Twenty 10-week-old SHCRs were divided into two groups: a control group (n = 10), and an AST-120 group (n = 10). The experiment was begun at the 12th week and completed at the 34th week of life.

Results. At the end of the experiment, we found that the serum levels of total cholesterol were 40% lower in the AST-120 rats than in the control rats (P < 0.01). The creatinine clearance in the AST group was 40% higher than that in the controls (P < 0.05). At the age of 20 weeks, postheparin lipoprotein lipase in the AST-120 SHCRs and in Sprague-Dawley rats with normal serum lipid levels was comparable, but was clearly lower in the control SHCRs. Finally, in a pathological investigation that determined a sclerosis index for all kidneys, this was significantly lower in the AST group than in the control animals (P < 0.01).

Conclusions. The reduction of serum lipid levels following the administration of the AST-120 oral adsorbent is associated with amelioration of renal functional and structural changes in SHCRs.