Rhein retards the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy in rats / 中华肾脏病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the effect of rhein on diabetic nephropathy in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Diabetes was induced by high-lipids and high-sucrose diets (20% sucrose, 10% lard, 2.5% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 66.5 % regular chow, w/w) for 1 month and then intraperitoneal injection with 25 mg/kg streptozoticin(STZ) in female inbred Wistar rats. Rhein was continuously given 100 mg?kg-1?day-1 for 6 months 1 week after STZ injection in rhein-prevented group, and 1 month after STZ injection in rhein-treated group. Blood and urinary biochemistry and renal morphology were evaluated at divers times. Results Rhein ameliorated hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, but had few effect on the level of plasma glucose in both rhein-prevented group and rhein-treated group. Excretion of urinary protein reduced markedly and stable-state plasma glucose (SSPG) level decreased in both groups as compared with diabetic group. Examination of kidney sections from both rhein-prevented group and rhein-treated group showed that the structural lesions of glomeruli including mesangial expansion, diffuse glomerulosclersis and thickening of glomerular basement membrane, as well as artery injury such as arteriolar hyalinosis, atherosclerosis were markedly improved as compared with diabetic group. Morphometry of glomeruli from both rhein-prevented group and rhein-treated group showed that glomerular grow and mesangial hypertrophy occurred in diabetic group were ameliorated. The accumulation of fibronectin examined by immunostaining in glomeruli was reduced in both groups. Conclusion Therapeutic intervention with rhein can halt the progression of diabetic nephropathy and prevent the development of glomerulosclerosis and vascular injuries in this animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.