Nicorandil suppresses urinary protein excretion and activates eNOS in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats

Hypertension is a risk factor common to both chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Nicorandil is widely used for the treatment of angina. We investigated the benefits of nicorandil with respect to renal dysfunction in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive (DS) rats.

DS rats were fed a high-salt (HS) diet and nicorandil was administered via the drinking water. Blood pressure and renal function were measured for 4 weeks after starting the rats on the HS diet.

In rats fed the HS diet, renal dysfunction was manifested by an increase in urinary protein and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase excretion. Nicorandil ameliorated renal function with a concomitant reduction in urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and an increase in urinary NOx. Significant upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and an increase in the eNOS dimer/monomer ratio (reduction of eNOS uncoupling) was demonstrated in glomeruli following nicorandil treatment. The blood pressure of DS rats was increased by salt loading; however, no significant change in blood pressure was observed with nicorandil treatment.

In DS rats fed a HS diet, nicorandil prevented the development of renal dysfunction, which was accompanied by an increase in eNOS expression in the kidneys.