Objective: To investigate the effects of phosphonoformic acid (PFA) and sevelamer hydrochloride (Renagel) on renal type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-2) mRNA expression in hyperphosphatemia rats.
Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups based on the diet for 2 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx): Nx + high-phosphate (HP; 1.2% P) diet; Nx + low-phosphate (LP; 0.2% P) diet; HP + PFA (injected with 0.15 g/kg PFA daily); HP + Saline (injected with the same amount of saline daily); and HP + Renagel (2%) group. Another 12 rats were sham operated and divided into Sham + HP and Sham + LP groups. Serum ionized calcium, phosphorus (P), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured on days 2, 7, and 14. Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 was measured on day 14 and NaPi-2 mRNA levels were assayed by RT-PCR.
Results: PFA decreased iPTH level but had no effect on NaPi-2 mRNA expression. Renagel decreased serum P and iPTH levels, but upregulated renal NaPi-2 mRNA expression.
Conclusions: Both PFA and Renagel are effective drugs to decrease iPTH level and they might be potential candidates for treatment of clinical secondary hyperparathyroidism. Renagel can also decrease serum P and upregulate renal NaPi-2 mRNA expression.