Effects of Ginkgo biloba on prevention of development of experimental diabetic nephropathy in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on early experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats.


METHODS
After an early DN model was induced by streptozotocin, rats were administered GbE at 3 doses for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine protein, kidney index, anti-oxidase, advanced glycosylation end products (AGE), collagen IV and laminin, matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA were measured by different methods. The ultrastructural morphology and the thickness of glomerular base membrane (GBM) were observed by a transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
For the GbE-treated DN rats, when compared with the vehicle-treated DN rats, the fasting blood glucose level, Cr, BUN, urine protein level, and the intensity of oxidative stress were significantly decreased. The expression of MMP-2 greatly increased, and TIMP-2 decreased. Also, AGE, either in serum or in renal, the collagen IV, laminin, CTGF levels, and TGF-beta1 mRNA were reduced. Furthermore, both relative grades of mesangium hyperplasia by microscopical observation and the thickness of GBM by electron microscope measurement decreased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
GbE has protective effects on several pharmacological targets in the progress of DN and is a potential drug for the prevention of early DN.
Lu
Qian
Q
Department of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, China.
Yin
Xiao-Xing
XX
Wang
Jian-Yun
JY
Gao
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Pan
Ying-Mei
YM
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001786:Blood Glucose; C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D002216:Captopril; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2