Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of giant knotweed rhizome medicine on the pathological changes and expressions of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)、 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in nephridial tissues in experimental diabetic rats. Methods36 healthy male Whistar rats were divided into the control group(n=8) and the experimental group (n=28) which were given diets enriched with sucrose(20％w／w), lard(10％ w／w), cholesterol(2.5％ w／w) and cholic acid(0.5％ w／w). After 4 weeks, diabetic rat models were induced by an injection of streptozotocin (STZ) into the vena caudalis and were randomly divided into 3 groups: the model group(fed with distilled water), the giant knotweed rhizome medicine group and the fluvastatin group. Blood glucose(BG), KW／BW(kidney weight／body weigh), creatinine clearance (Ccr), and 24h urinary protein (24 hUP) were determined after 8 weeks. Pathological changes of the kidneys were observed by using light and electron microscopy, and the expressions of receptors for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the glomcrulus were determined by using immunohistochemical methods. ResultsAfter interference, compared with the model group, the KW／BW, Ccr, 24?hUP, and the volume of the glomcrulus of the giant knotweed rhizome medicine group were significantly downregulated(P＜0.01 and P＜0.05), also expressions of RAGE and VEGF in the glomcrulus were significantly inhibited(P＜0.05 and P＜0.01). ConclusionGiant knotweed rhizome medicine has a renoprotective effect for diabetic rats, which may relate to the downregulation of expressions of RAGE and VEGF in nephridial tissues.

Key words: Diabetic nephropathy, Giant knotweed rhizome medicine, Fluvastatins, Receptor for advanced glycation end products, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Rats, Wistar