title: Effect of RAS inhibition on TGF-β, renal function and structure in experimentally induced diabetic hypertensive nephropathy rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Hence, developing agents that antagonize fibrogenic signals is a critical issue facing researchers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty rats were allocated to five groups: 1=control rats, 2=diabetic hypertensive rats 3=diabetic hypertensive rats treated with spironolactone, 4=diabetic hypertensive rats treated with moexpril, 5=diabetic hypertensive rats treated with both spironolactone and moexpril. Measurement of TGF-β, aldosterone, creatinine and ACE. Degree of fibrosis was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum creatinine, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), aldosterone, ACE, TGF-β and renal fibrosis increased significantly in untreated diabetic hypertensive rats compared with control rats. Administration of spironolactone, moexpril, or both decreased these changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of the spironolactone to moexpril was more effective in reducing fibrosis and improvement of renal function than monotherapy with either drug, possibly due to a dual inhibitory effect on the RAS, and thus suppression of TGF-β.
authors.affiliation: Medical biochemistry department, faculty of medicine, Zagazig university, 28-el-Galaa, Zagazig, Sharkia 44519, Egypt. randahussiny@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Abd El Motteleb
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Abd El-Aziz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009393:Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013148:Spironolactone; D018631:ras Proteins; C058302:moexipril