Effects of valsartan on the renal nephrin and vascular endothelial growth factor of adriamycin nephritic rats

【Objective】 To explore effects of valsartan on expression changes of nephrin and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in adriamycin(ADR)-induced-nephropathy rats. 【Methods】 Thirty-six rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into two groups: the model group(n=24) and the control group(n=12).The rats in the model group were injected with a single dose of ADR(0.007 mg/g) via tail-vein,while the rats in the control group were injected with a comparable volume of 0.9% saline.The model was successfully established when the 24 h urinary protein excretion exceeded 100 mg after ADR injection 1 week.Twenty rats were successful and then were randomly assigned to the ADR nephrosis group(n=10) and the valsartan group(n=10).The rats in the valsartan group were treated with valsartan[0.02 mg(g·d),i.g.,once a day for 4 weeks,whereas the other rats were received a comparable volume of 0.9% saline.The 24 h urinary protein excretion was measured and the pathological changes of the renal tissues were observed under light microscope,Immunohistochemical and Western Blotting techniques to detect the expression of nephrin and VEGF,then analyzed the relationship of the data. 【Results】 1)The 24 h urinary protein and the expression of VEGF in the ADR nephrosis group were higher than those in the control group and valsartan group(P0.05),and the expression of nephrin in the ADR nephrosis group was lower than those in the control group and valsartan group(P0.05);2)Nephrin was negatively correlated with the 24 h urinary protein,while VEGF was positively correlated with the 24 h urinary protein. 【Conclusions】 1)Nephrin and VEGF play an important role in the pathogenesis of ADR nephrosis.2)Valsartan decreases the urine albumin excretory rate in rats with ADR nephrosis,which mechanism may be at least partly correlated with enhancing the expression of nephrin and inhibiting the expression of VEGF in kidney.