The effect of bromhexine on experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy

Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single i.v. injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Animals were treated with bromhexine at 2 dose levels (2.5 mg/kg/day and 25 mg/kg/day) for 13 months thereafter and compared to non-diabetic controls and untreated diabetic animals. Renal pathology showed a significant increase in glomerular volume and basement membrane thickening in untreated diabetic animals. The higher dose bromhexine treated diabetic animals showed a significant decrease in glomerular volume as compared with diabetic animals not given bromhexine.