Sodium Dichloroacetate Pharmacological Effect as Related to Na–K–2Cl Cotransporter Inhibition in Rats

The study objective was to investigate a possible sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) pharmacological mechanism causing an increase in diuresis in rats. The aim was to define characteristics of 24-hour urinary Na(+), K(+), Cl(−), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+) excretion in Wistar male rats and to evaluate effect of a single-dose DCA and repeated DCA dosage on diuresis. Six control and 6 DCA-treated male rats aged 5 to weeks after a single DCA dose and repeated dosage were tested. The single DCA dose treatment caused a significantly higher 24-hour diuresis when compared to control (P < .05), and it was related to increased Cl(−), Na(+), and K(+) urine excretion and a significant increase in Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) excretion (P < .05); after the repeated 4-week DCA dosage, the diuresis was not increased, but the excretion of the Na(+), Cl(−), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+) ions was significantly higher. Kidney immunohistochemistry has revealed that DCA continuous treatment results in an increase in the size of Henle loop thick ascending limb epithelial cells (P < .001). The study results show a significantly reduced RNA expression of Na-K-2Cl co-transporter (NKCC1) in thymus of 4-week DCA-treated rats (P < .03). The study data have indicated a possible mechanism of such pharmacological effect to be NKCC inhibition.