Effects of benazepril on apoptosis in the kidney of diabetic rats / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on apoptosis and the expression of Fas and Fas-L in the kidney of diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Uninephrectomized Spraque-Dawley rats were used to induce diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg.kg-1). Benazepril (10 mg.kg-1) was given daily by gavage from the next day of the induction to diabetes for 12 weeks. Apoptosis was evaluated by means of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of Fas and Fas-L.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the kidneys of control group, apoptotic cells were more in number and the expression of Fas and Fas-L was higher in the diabetic kidneys (P < 0.05). The number of apoptotic cells and the level of expression of Fas and Fas-L were reduced by benazepril treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril showed some renal protective effect on diabetic nephropathy, partly through inhibiting apoptosis by down-regulating Fas and Fas-L expression.</p>