Ameliorating effect of cobalt chloride on renal failure and glucose lowering effect in diabetic nephropathy induced in uninephrectomized diabetic rat

Diabetic nephropathy, a progressive development of renal insufficiency in the setting of hyperglycemia, is the major single cause of chronic renal failure (CRF) in which hypoxia plays a critical role. This study evaluated the efficacy of cobalt chloride, a Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PHD) inhibtor, in amelioration of renal injury, as well as its effect on hyperglycemia in uninephrectomized diabetic rat. The effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl2,10 mg/kg, i.p. OD) treatment on plasma urea, creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride, as well as blood glucose levels were checked along with measurement of the dry weight of contralateral kidney in different groups. A significant rise in plasma urea, creatinine and uric acid levels was observed in uninephrectomized diabetic rat. Cobalt chloride (10 mg/kg, i.p. OD) treatment for seven continuous days, followed by intermittent dosing for 30 days, showed improvement in renal injury by a significant fall in the plasma urea, creatinine and uric acid levels with restoration to partially normal values as compared to an uninephrectomized uninephrectomized diabetic group. A significant change in plasma electrolyte levels was observed which was partially normalized in the cobalt chloride group along with a reduction in the dry weight of kidney. A significant decrease in the blood glucose level was observed in the CoCl2 treated group as compared to the uninephrectomized diabetic group. Our study shows the effect of CoCl2 in amelioration of renal failure and antihyperglycemic effect.