Diuretic and natriuretic effects of sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor

The renal effects of sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor that interferes with the conversion of glucose to sorbitol, were studied in rats and rabbits before and after fluid deprivation. The intracellular osmolar solute, sorbitol, is found in increasing concentrations from cortex to medulla in the kidney and may be involved in the urinary concentrating mechanism. Oral administration of sorbinil in the rabbit resulted in significant increases in urine flow rate and sodium excretion with a tendency toward decreased urine osmolality and increased potassium excretion both before and after water deprivation. When fluid intake was controlled in the rat study, significant increases in urine flow rate and sodium and potassium excretion and a significant decrease in urine osmolality occurred only in response to fluid deprivation. Thus, sorbinil has diuretic and natriuretic properties and may prevent the normal concentration of urine in the antidiuretic animal.