title: [Study on the effect and mechanism of ascorbic acid on renal podocytes in diabetes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect and mechanism of ascorbic acid on podocyte, last barrier of glomerular filtration, in diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin injection intraperitoneally were treated by ascorbic acid for 5 weeks. The levels of blood glucose (BG), HbA1c, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and superoxide diamutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in renal cortex were measured. The podocyte ultrastructure was observed while the expression of desmin protein, a marker of podocyte injury, was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with control group, BG and HbA1c were increased markedly in diabetic group. The activities of SOD and CAT were decreased and the concentrations of MDA were increased significantly in diabetic renal cortex. There were the increased proteinic expression of desmin, foot process effacement in podocytes and UAER markedly in diabetic rats. Compared with diabetic rats, foot process effacement and the changes of UAER were ameliorated markedly while the activities of SOD were increased, the levels of MDA and proteinic expression of desmin were decreased markedly although BG, HbA1c and the activities of CAT were no significant difference in the diabetic rats by ascorbic acid treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that there are marked injury in podocyte, last barrier of glomerular filtration, in diabetic rats and administration of ascorbic acid can protect podocyte by increasing antioxidative capacity and ameliorating the renal oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China. qinqiaojing@sohu.com
authors.forename: Qiao-Jing
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Hua-Cong
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Tong-Feng
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wen-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Dong-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D050199:Podocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid