Effect of pioglitazone on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the kidney of diabetic rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the kidney of diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetic model was established by a single injection of streptozotocin(STZ 55 mg/kg),and diabetic rats were randomly divided in to 2 groups: untreated diabetes mellitus group(DM group),pioglitazone-treated diabetes mellitus group(DP group 10 mg·kg-1d-1).In addition,the normal rats served as a normal control group(NC group).Eight weeks later,the twenty-four hours urine protein level,serum urea nitrogen,serum creatinine,blood glucose and serum tipids were detected.The expressions of VEGF were detected by immunohistochemisty and Reverse transcription-PCR. Results: Compared with NC group,the twenty-four hours urine protein level,serum urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in DM group were significantly increased,and the expression of VEGF was significantly higher.Compared with DM group,the twenty-fours hour urine protein level,serum urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were significantly decreased in DP group,while there was a significant reduction in both the VEGF and the VEGF mRNA expression after treatment group.Blood glucose and serum lipids profile were significantly changed in DM group compared with NC group,while they had no significant difference between DM group and DP group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of VEGF is increased in the kidney of STZ induced diabetic rates.Pioglitazone can reduce the expression of VEGF,and the excretion of urine protein,and to ameliorate renal function,whose mechanism may be some direct nephroprotective effects.