Abstract:Objective: To investigate the protective effect and regulatory mechanism of Shenjingshuizhong decoction on diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats. Methods: Sixty SPF SD male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10/group): normal control group, DN model group, Shenjingshuizhong decoction low-dose group (1g/kg), Shenjingshuizhong decoction medium-dose group (2g/kg), Shenjingshuizhong decoction high-dose group (4g/kg) and positive control group (α-lipoic acid, 60mg/kg). Among them, 50 rats in DN model group, Shenjingshuizhong decoction low, medium and high dose groups and positive control group were injected with streptozotocin to construct DN model. The general condition, body weight and blood glucose level of rats were recorded. The levels of serum Creatinine (Cr) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was used to detect the pathological changes of rat kidney tissue. The protein levels of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), activin-like kinase 1 (ALK1) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1) in kidney tissue were detected by Western blot. Results: Rats in the normal control group were in good health, while those in the DN model group showed poor health with typical symptoms of DN. After treatment with Shenjingshuizhong decoction or α-lipoic acid, the above symptoms were alleviated. Compared with the normal control group, rats of other groups showed that body weight decreased significantly, and the blood glucose level, serum Cr, and BUN levels increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the DN model group, the body weight of the low, Shenjingshuizhong decoction medium and high dose groups and the positive control group increased significantly, and the blood glucose level, serum Cr and BUN levels decreased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the renal tissue sections of the other groups showed interstitial hyperplasia and thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. Compared with the DN model group, the degree of renal tissue lesions in the Shenjingshuizhong decoction low, medium and high dose groups and the positive control group was significantly reduced, and it was concentration-dependent. Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression levels of Ang-1, TGF-β1 and ALK1 in the kidney tissue of the DN model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the DN model group, the protein expression levels of Ang-1, TGF-β1 and ALK1 in the kidney tissue of the Shenjingshuizhong decoction low, medium and high dose groups and the positive control group were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the Shenjingshuizhong decoction high-dose group and the positive control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Shenjingshuizhong decoction can reduce blood glucose level, renal function injury, renal angiogenesis, and renal structure changes in DN rats by inhibiting TGF-β1/ALK1 signaling pathway.
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