[Expression of VEGF in kidney of diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the kidney of diabetic rats and probe its relationship with the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN).


METHODS
Diabetes mellitus was induced in SD rats by Streptozotocin. The renal tissues of rats were taken out at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks after operation. The expression of VEGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry methods. VEGF mRNA in kidney was detected by RT-PCR at the same time points. The levels of VEGF mRNA and immunostaining were quantified by computer image analysis. The relationships of VEGF with the indices of renal damage, including renal/body weight, urinary protein excretion, glomerular volume and glomerular area, were analyzed.


RESULTS
The expression of VEGF mRNA in diabetic kidney was significantly up-regulated after operation from 2 weeks to 24 weeks with the peak level at 20 weeks, when compared with control at the same time-points. The positive results of VEGF staining in diabetic glomeruli was increasingly observed after operation from 2 weeks to 24 weeks, with the peak at 20 weeks. The positive results of VEGF staining in diabetic tubuli was increasingly seen from 2 weeks to 24 weeks, with the peak at 8 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF level is increased continuously in the diabetic kidney of rat. The increased expression of VEGF is mainly located in the glomeruli at the early and middle stages, and is in the tubuli at the middle and late stages. VEGF expression in the diabetic kidney of rat is related to the development of renal changes.
Chen
Ze-jun
ZJ
Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yang
Yi-bin
YB
Huang
Song-min
SM
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A