ABSTRACT
Objective To in ve stigate the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on matrix metallop roteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and its mRNA expression in renal cortex of rats. Methods Diabetic model of rats was induced by s treptozotocin. AGEs were prepared by incubation of rat serum protein with 0.5 mo l/L glucose. AGEs was administered intravenously to normal rats (AGEs group), an d native rat serum protein was given as negative control (negative group) and no rmal rats without treatment were as control (control group). AGEs content in ren al cortex and serum was quantified by ELISA, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions were examined by RT-PCR and MMP-2 activity was measured by zymography. Results AGEs content increased significantly, MMP-2 mRNA expression descended and TIMP-2 mRNA expression ascended in renal cortex o f diabetic rats (all P
ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the effect of curcumin on the extracellular matrix of aorta in cardiac overloaded rats. METHODS: Cardiac overloaded model was made by partial click of the abdominal aorta in Sprague Dawley rats. Curcmin, 100 mg?kg -1 ?d -1 for 3 weeks, was given by po 1 week after the click operation. The ratio of aorta wet weight to body weight was calculated; the collagen content was measured with Woessner's method and the activity of matrix metallproteinase 2 was analyzed with zymography. RESULTS: In cardiac overloaded rats, the wet weight and collagen content of aorta was increased, and the activity of matrix metallproteinse 2 of aorta was decreased. Compared with the cardiac overloaded rats without any drugs, the increased weight and collagen content of aorta was reversed, but the activity of matrix metallproteinse 2 of aorta was seldom changed in curcumin treated rats. CONCLUSION: Curcumin can reverse the hypertrophy of aorta of cardiac overloaded rats mainly by means of inhibiting the synthesis of collagen.