[Effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist on rat podocyte injury in early diabetic nephropathy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nephrin and desmin expression in rat podocytes in early diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the rale of angiotensin II receptor antagonist in renal protection.


METHODS
Rat models of DN established by a injection of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) were randomized into model group and irbesartan group, with rats without STZ injection as the normal control group. The rats in irbesartan group were subjected to daily intragastric irbesartan administration for 8 consecutive weeks, while those in the model group received only saline in the same manner. Upon completion of the treatment, the rats were sacrificed and pathological changes of the kidney were examined with optical and transmission electron microscope. Nephrin and desmin expressions in the podocytes were detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In rats with DN, irbesartan administration alleviated podocyte injury and significantly lowered the expression of nephrin and desmin (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Angiotensin II receptor antagonist may offer renal protection against DN by alleviating structural and functional podocyte damage through decreasing nephrin expression in the podocytes.
Long
Hai-bo
HB
Nephropathy Center of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China. lymlhbcj@hotmail.com
Zhong
Juan
J
Wei
Lian-bo
LB
Zhou
Wei-dong
WD
Xu
Zhao-zhong
ZZ
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077405:Irbesartan; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050199:Podocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D003893:Desmin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013777:Tetrazoles; C113267:nephrin; D000077405:Irbesartan