Introduction: Chronic diseases have become major health issues encountering people globally and on top of the list comes "Diabetes Mellitus (DM)". One of its serious complications is "Diabetic Nephropathy (DN)".
Aim of the Work: Demonstration of the possible effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on induced diabetic nephropathy in rats as a cure or prophylactic therapy.
Materials and Methods: Seventy adult male albino rats were randomly distributed into five groups; group I (control group), group II (PTX group), group III (diabetic nephropathy group), group IV (diabetic rats received pentoxifylline as a prophylactic treatment one week after induction of diabetes) and group V (diabetic rats received pentoxifylline as a curative treatment starting after sixth week of induction of diabetes). Induction of diabetes was done by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). A single dose of PTX (200 mg/kg) was given daily by gastric intubation. At the end of experiment (after 8 weeks), renal specimens were collected and processed for paraffin blocks and stained with H&E and immunohistochemical stains and examined by light microscope. Other samples were prepared to obtain semithin sections stained with toluidine blue to be examined by light microscope and ultrathin sections to be examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Results: In diabetic nephropathy, there were shrunken glomeruli. The epithelial cells of renal tubules showed vacuolations, degenerative changes and complete shedding. There was anti-NF-κb strong positive reaction of renal tubules. In TEM examination, there were thickening of the glomerular filtration barrier, fusion of foot processes of podocytes, damage of renal tubules. Histopathological examination of the kidney showed improvement in the prophylactic and the curative groups. There was a significant decrease in anti-NF-κb positive reaction in groups II, IV and V.
Conclusion: Pentoxifylline had both prophylactic and curative effects against diabetic nephropathy.