[Preventive effects of multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii on glomerular lesions in experimental diabetic nephropathy].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the preventive effects of multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on glomerular lesions in experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN).


METHODS
The DN model of rats was established with streptozotocin (STZ) and intervened with GTW. In the same time, normal, benazepril, and vehicle control groups were set up. After 8 weeks of oral treatment with GTW (50 mg x kg(-1) BW), benazepril (6 mg x kg(-1) BW), and vehicle (physiological saline), the changes of body weight, urine albumin (UA1b), blood glucose (BG), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and glomerular morphology were examined. In addition, the level of protein expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and collagen type I in glomeruli was determined by immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Both GTW and benazepril reduced UA1b. GTW ameliorated glomerular injury, such as mesangial cell proliferation, alpha-SMA and collagen type I over-expression, in DN model. Compared with benazepril, beneficial effects of GTW on glomerulusclerosis were more significant (total cell number: GTW group 54.44 +/- 2.41, benazepril group microg/67.83 +/- 4.41, P < 0.05; alpha-SMA score: GTW group 1.98 +/- 0.52, benazepril group 2.27 +/- 0.46, P < 0.05; collagen type I score: GTW group 2.11 +/- 0.37, benazepril group 2.88 +/- 0.58, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive effects of GTW on glomerular lesion in DN model are related to decreasing UA1b and ameliorating glomerulusclerosis.
Zhang
Huilan
H
Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
Sun
Wei
W
Wan
Yigang
Y
Che
Xiaoyan
X
He
Fang
F
Pu
Hongping
H
Dou
Chenhui
C
D000818:Animals; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006027:Glycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*
D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts