ABSTRACT
AIM:To investigate the effects of Zhenwu decoction ( ZWD) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and NF-κB in diabetic nephropathy ( DN) rats.METHODS:Diabetic rat model was induced by intrape-ritoneal injection of streptozotocin ( STZ) , and the animals were randomly divided into STZ group ( n=22) and STZ+ZWD group (n=23).The normal rats served as control (n=16).All rats were sacrificed on 8 weeks after modeling.Biochemical assay and pathological observation ( HE staining and transmission electron microscopy ) were used to evaluate the effects of Zhenwu decoction on the renal function and pathological morphology .The body weight , renal index , blood glucose , total urinary protein in 24 h, and superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) , inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS) were determined as well .Western blotting was used to observe the effects of Zhenwu decoction on the expression ofα-SMA and NF-κB in diabetic nephropathy ( DN) rats.RESULTS:Compared with normal group , the renal index , blood glucose concentration, total urinary protein in 24 h, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr) and MDA were significantly higher and body weight was lower in DN rats (P<0.05).Pathological examination of the kidneys in DN group showed glomerular hypertrophy , glomerular basement membrane thickening , tubular epithelial cell degeneration , me-sangial matrix proliferation , protein cast formation in some renal tubules .The protein expression levels of α-SMA and NF-κB were markedly increased (P<0.05).After ZWD treatment, the level of renal index, total urinary protein in 24 h, BUN, SCr and the expression of α-SMA and NF-κB at the protein level were significantly decreased (P<0.05).The renal histological injury in ZWD group was significantly ameliorated .CONCLUSION: Zhenwu decoction might protect kidney against STZ-induced injury via decreasing the expression of α-SMA and NF-κB.