Pharmacological studies on experimental nephritic rats (2). Antinephritic effect of various drugs on Masugi's...

Masugi's nephritis was induced in rats by a single i.v. injection of antikidney serum from rabbits immunized with the homogenate of rat whole kidneys. The antinephritic effect of drugs was evaluated through determination of biochemical parameters such as contents of protein and enzymes excreted into the urine and serum cholesterol content by the preadministration and intermittent administration tests. In the preadministration test, of test drugs, betamethasone (0.2 mg/kg +/- 3 p.o.) and azathioprine (25 mg/kg +/- 3 p.o.) showed an antinephritic effect. Betamethasone in particular resulted in normalization of urine and serum parameters. In the intermittent test, all drugs tested were effective. Significant recovery effects were observed with betamethasone (0.1 mg/kg +/- 6 p.o.),, prednisolone (5 mg/kg +/- 6 p.o.), azathioprine (30 mg/kg +/- 6 p.o.), tranexamic acid (200 mg/kg +/- 6 i.p.) and cetraxate (100 mg/kg 6 i.p.) on urinary protein excretion and with all test drugs including indomethacin (5 mg/kg +/- 6 p.o.) and cyclophosphamide (2.5 mg/kg +/- 6 p.o.) on urinary exzyme excretions. Serum cholesterol levels reverted to normal levels after administration of betamethasone. Using this nephritic model, the antinephritic effect of drugs could be tentatively evaluated.