Abstract:

Objective    To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenshuaining on  kidney injury in diabetic rats. Methods    Of 24 male vista rats, 8 rats were randomly selected  as the control group(N group), while the other 16 rats were induced into the diabetic models by a single intraperitoneal streptozotocia(STZ) injection. Then, the latter group was  randomly divided  into the diabetic nephropathy group(DN group,n=8) and the Shenshuaining treating group(S group,n=8). The therapy lasted for 8 weeks. Blood glucose, renal function and 24h urinary protein excretion quantity were detected. Renal pathological examination was observed and  expressions of transforming growth factorbeta l(TGF-β1 ), laminin(LN ) and collagen IV(Col Ⅳ) in nephridial tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results    Compared with the N group, the levels of blood glucose, SCr, BUN and 24h urine protein excretion were significantly increased in the DN and S groups (P<0.01), and so were  expressions of TGF-β1, LN and Col Ⅳ in nephridial tissues (P<0.01). Compared with the DN group, all the above  parameters  were significantly decreased in the S group (P<0.01),  except for the level of blood glucose(P>0.05). Conclusion     Shenshuaining has a protective effect on  kidney injury in diabetic rats. It can reduce urine protein excretion, improve renal function, down-regulate  expression of TGF-β1 and inhibit the accumulation the extracellular matrix(ECM) to slow down the process of renal fibrosis.

Key words: Diabetes, renal; Shenshuaining; Transforming growth factor-beta l; Laminin; Collagen IV