Captopril reduces the proteinuric effect of human growth hormone in adriamycin nephrosis

Developing male Sprague-Dawley rats (125 g) with adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) nephrosis (AN) were treated with growth hormone (GH) which may induce hyperfiltration potentiating glomerulosclerosis. Since captopril (CAP) reduces hyperfiltration, we studied its effects in GH-treated rats with AN. After 41, 76, and 90 days of therapy, urine protein excretion was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in GH-treated AN plus CAP compared with AN rats receiving GH alone. After 90 days, urine protein, creatinine ratio was significantly (P<0.05) increased in GH-treated AN (95.2+/-13.9) compared with untreated AN (64.8+/-7.8) and GH-treated AN rats plus CAP (41.8+/-8.8). The mean serum cholesterol level was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in GH-treated AN rats receiving CAP compared with AN rats receiving GH alone and untreated AN controls. Histologically tubular dilation was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in GH-treated AN rats plus CAP compared with AN rats receiving GH alone. Tubular atrophy and scarring were significantly (P<0.05) increased in AN rats treated with GH compared with untreated AN rats, and normalized in GH-treated AN rats plus CAP. We conclude that CAP reduces the proteinuric response of GH in rats with AN and ameliorates tubular injury.