title: [Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in kidney of diabetic rats].
abstract: To investigate the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA), a marker of myofibroblast in kidney of diabetic rats and its role in pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  
  Diabetic disease model was made on 24 Sprague-Dauley (SD) rats by an single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (70 mg/kg) and 24 health SD rats served as controls. Six diabetic rats and six control rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after injection of streptozotocin. At each time-point, the renal morphological changes were examined by histopathology. alpha SMA and collagen-IV (C-IV) expressions were studied by immunohistochemistry (SABC). The content of alpha SMA in renal cortex was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).
  
  
  
  At all time-points, renal content of alpha SMA increased in diabetic rats. Compared with controls, diabetic rats had a steady increased accumulation of C-IV. Expression of C-IV was positively correlated with that of alpha SMA.
  
  
  
  At early stage of diabetes,increased alpha SMA in kidney suggests the formation of myofibroblast, which may be involved in accumulation of C-IV and contributed to diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. lihong@mail.hz.zj.cn
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D024141:Collagen Type IV