title: [Effects of spironolactone administration on the podocytes loss and progression of experimental diabetic nephropathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effect of spironolactone (SPL) on the loss of podocytes during the progression of experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of male Holtzman rats randomly received streptozotocin (diabetic group) or a buffer citrate (control group). Diabetic rats were treated with SPL (50 mg/kg/day). The glomerular area and the cellularity were evaluated by histomorphometric methods. The injury and loss of podocytes was assessed by desmin expression and Wt-1, respectively. The gene expression of TGF-β1 was assessed by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glucose levels, the glomerular area, the mesangial expansion and collagen content increased significantly in diabetic rats. The administration of SPL prevented these changes without changing glucose levels. Immunostain for Wt-1 decreased significantly while immunostain for desmin increased dramatically in diabetic rats. Treatment with SPL prevented the increase of desmin expression and the loss of Wt-1 expression. Furthermore, the administration of SPL prevented the increase of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with SPL, through independent glucose effects, reduces the loss of podocytes and the progression of DN morphological changes. These results suggest that these effects are mediated, at least in part, by the inhibition of TGF-β1 mRNA expression.
authors: Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú.
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Aguilar
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Rodríguez-Delfín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D008297:Male; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050199:Podocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D013148:Spironolactone