[Protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on rats with streptozotocin diabetes and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on renal morphology and renal function of rats with streptozotocin diabetes.


METHODS
Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were normal control group, untreated group and Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. Diabetic nephropathy was induced in rats of the last two groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after unilateral nephrectomy. Then the rats in the normal control and untreated groups were fed with normal saline while those in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were fed Salvia miltiorrhiza preparation for 8 weeks. The glomerular volume (VG), kidney-to-body weight ratio (KW/BW), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were observed. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the end of the experiment.


RESULTS
UAER, Ccr, VG and KW/BW ratio were significantly higher in the untreated group than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the untreated group were also significantly higher as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05). UAER, Ccr, VG, KW/BW ratio and the levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were obviously lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Salvia miltiorrhiza can protect rats with streptozotocin diabetes from diabetic nephropathy by suppressing the over-expressions of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in renal cortex.
Liu
Gang
G
Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province 250033, China.
Guan
Guang-Ju
GJ
Qi
Tong-Gang
TG
Fu
Yu-Qin
YQ
Li
Xue-Gang
XG
Sun
Yun
Y
Wu
Tao
T
Wen
Rong-Zhu
RZ
D000818:Animals; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005353:Fibronectins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor