Antiproteinuric effect of KD3-671, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, in rats with accelerated passive Heymann nephritis.

The antiproteinuric effect of KD3-671 (2-propyl-8-oxo-1-[(2'-(H-tetrazole-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl)methyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrocycloheptimidazole), an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist, was compared with that of enalapril, an angiotensin 11-converting enzyme inhibitor, using an experimental model of membranous nephropathy. KD3-671 (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg per day) and enalapril (30 mg/kg per day) were given p.o. for 40 days, respectively. KD3-671 (30 mg/kg per day) inhibited the elevation of proteinuria and plasma total cholesterol. On the other hand, enalapril showed only a tendency to diminish these parameters. KD3-671 had an antiproteinuric effect in rats with accelerated passive Heymann nephritis. These findings provide considerable encouragement for the clinical development of KD3-671.