Renoprotective Effects of Valsartan And Amlodipine in a Nephrotoxic Model of Experimental Animals

Background: Calcium channel blockers and AT1 antagonists have efficacious effects to control elevated blood pressure by different mechanisms. They are used widely in co-morbid hypertensive patients either to prevent deterioration of blood pressure or to protect the cardiovascular diseases from further progression. Objectives: This work aims to investigate the protective effects of valsartan and amlodipine against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in experimental animals. Methods: Twenty-four rabbits were divided randomly into four groups, each of six animals. The first group was kept as the normal control group. Second, third and fourth groups were taken as a nephrotoxic model by giving gentamicin (80mg/kg IP) for 7 days. Blood samples were collected to investigate the kidney biomarkers including serum creatinine, BUN, Crcl, uric acid and potassium level. Urine collection was done to measure pH, volume as well as urine creatinine. Bodyweight was measured before and after treatment, furthermore, the weights of heart and kidneys were done at the end of the study. Results: The outcomes of this study showed a significant elevation in all kidney biomarkers in a nephrotoxic-induced group accompanied by the reduction in the weights of heart and kidney as compared with the control one. The treated groups either valsartan or amlodipine showed little improvements in some parameters compared with the nephrotoxic-induced group. Conclusion: From the results of the present study, it was suggested that both medications might have renoprotective effects that obviously reduced the kidney biomarkers as well as there was no significant difference between the two drugs concerning their protective effect.