Effects of Tongluo recipe on injury of glomerular visceral epithelial cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and the possible mechanisms of Tongluo reiipe (TLR) on podocyte injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced by a ingle intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) dissolved in citrate buffer. The diabetic model rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=12) diabetic mellitus (DM) group and DM+TLR group. Rats in the DM+TLR group received 0. 4 g/(kg · d) TLR throughout the experiment. Rats in the DM group and CON group (n=8) were given celiac perfusion of distilled water once at the same time and dose. After 12-week treatment, 24 h urinary protein of rats was determined; the cellular ultrastructures of podocytes were observed by transmission electronic microscope; the number and the density of podocytes in glomerulis were measured by stereological dissector/fractionator methods; the expression of nephrin in renal cortical tissue was detected by Western blotting analysis; the activity of superoxíde dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the plasma and renal cortical tissue. Resulls Compared with CON group, DM group and DM+TLR group had significantly increased ratio of kidney mass to body mass, blood glucose, and 24-h proteinuria (all P<0.01); at the 12th week, the glomerular basement membrane in DM group became conspicuously thick, foot process fusion and microvilli of podocytes were observed, and nephrin expression, podocyte number and podocyte density in the glomerulis were all significantly decreased (P<0.01). The morphology of the foot process was almost normal in DM+TLR group, with the basement membrane thickened, but was slighter than that in the DM group; and nephrin expression, podocyte number and podocyte density in DM+TLR group were significantly higher than those in the DM group (P<0.01). Compared with CON group, DM group and DM+TLR group had significantly increased MDA content, and significantly decreased SOD and GSH-Px activities in the plasma and renal cortical tissue (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with DM group, DM+TLR group had significantly increased SOD and GSH-Px activities and significantly decreased MDA content in plasma and renal cortical lissue(P<0.01, P< 0.05). Conclusion TLR can ameliorate podocyte injury probably through depleting free radical production and increasing activities of anfioxidatant.