Pharmacodynamic and pharmacological effect of Tribulus terrestris on kidney of rats with obesity-related hypertension through leptin mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effect and explore the mechanism of Tribulus terrestris (TT) on kidney of rats with obesity-related hypertension through leptin mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Methods: To establish the model of rats with obesity-related hypertension by high-fat diet. The model rats were randomly divided into three groups TT group (eight rats, 17.2 g/kg), Telmisartan group (eight rats, 3.4 mg/kg), and model group (eight rats, normal saline 2 mL/d). Rats were ig given drugs or saline for 12 weeks. The body weights and blood pressure were measured regularly. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and the levels of serum lipid and angiotensinII (AngII) and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) were determined by ELISA. Morphological changes of adipose tissue and kidney were observed by HE staining. The density of LepR in kidney was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Levels of mRNA and protein expression of JAK2 and STAT3 in kidney were determined by quantitive real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Results: Both body weights and blood pressure of TT group were decreased (P < 0.05). The levels of serum TG, TC, and LDL-C of TT group were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Kidney morphology of TT group was improved obviously and the size of lipocyte decreased. The levels of serum Ang II, Lep, and β2-MG of TT group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The density of LepR in kidney of TT group decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of JAK2 and STAT3 in kidney of TT group was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion: TT improves the leptin resistance of the obesity-related hypertensive rats mainly through JAK2/STAT3 pathway.