ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of atrovastatin on the expression of the NF-κB in renal tissues of diabetic rats.Methods A total of 60 male SD rats was randomly taken out 40 rats to make diabetic model by injection of 65mg streptozotoein (STZ) into enterocoelia,the rest of 20 rats were normal control group.After the model made,atrovastatin (2 mg/kg/d) was given to the treated group,and the normal control group and diabetic rats without treatment group were given equivalent water.After 12 weeks,the rats were killed.Total RNA of the renal tissues was isolated from one kidney for each rat,and the renal tissues from the another kidney was prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis.The NF-κB mRNA expressions among three groups were determined by RT-PCR.The distribution of NF-κB in the renal tissues was observed,and compared its difference among three groups.ResultsPCR showed that NF-κB mRNA was increased in the renal tissues of diabetic rats compared to control rats ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Drug-treated rats showed significantly decreased levels of NF-κB mRNA in the renal tissues compared to the untreated diabetic group( P ＜0.05).The results were also observed in protein lelel of NF-κB expression.IHC showed that there existed positive cells in the glomerular and renal tubulointerstitum.Conclusions Atrovastatin can down-regulate the expression of NF-κB and suppress the increased level of NF-κB protein in the renal tissue of diabetic rats,and slow the progress of retinopathy.