RESUMEN
The aim of this study is to study the effect of calcium dobesilate on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced early diabetic nephrophathy (DN) in rats. All male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: normal group; DN blank group; calcium dobesilate 75, 150, and 300 mg x kg(-1) groups and perindopril 0.4 mg x kg(-1) group. Blood glucose and the 24 h urinary albumin were measured dynamically during the experiment, after 8 weeks administration, the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined, the expressions of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9) in cortex of kidney were examined with immunohistochemical staining. The endothelin (ET) in plasma and kidney cortex was measured with radioimmunoassay, renal pathomorphism was observed with light and electron microscopes. Calcium dobesilate could decrease the 24 h urinary albumin and ET in plasma and kidney cortex, down-regulate the expression of PAI-1, and up-regulate MMP-9 in kidney. These findings suggested that calcium dobesilate could protect blood vessel endothelium, inhibit kidney fibrous degeneration, ameliorate renal pathological damage, and protect kidney function in many ways.