Expression of NF-κB and iNOS in the Kidney of Diabetic Rats Treated with Glurenorm

Objective To probe into the relationship between the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and the treatment of diabetic nephropathy with glurenorm in rats. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: the control group(group A),diabetes model group(group B),glibenclamide treatment group(group C) and glurenorm treatment group(group D).A model of diabetes was set up in each of the rats of groups B,C and D by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg·kg-1 of streptozotocin(STZ).Rats of group C and group D were then given each 1 mg·kg-1 of glibenclamide and 10 mg·kg-1 of glurenorm,respectively,administered by gastrogavage b.i.d.,for 12 consecutive weeks.Rats of group A were given each an equivalent volume of 0.1 mmol·L-1 of citric acid buffer solution,administered by intra peritoneal injection,b.i.d.,for 12 consecutive weeks.The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 12th week and the kidneys were taken for histopathological examination and assay of the activity of NF-κB and expression of iNOS with immunohistochemical methods. Results Histopathologic changes in varying degrees were demonstrated in the kidneys from animals of group B,C and D as compared with those from rats of group A.These changes were most pronounced in the kidneys from rats of group B while those in kidneys from rats of group C and group D were more trifling.The results of immunohistochemical analysis revealed that,the expression of NF-κB in kidneys from rats of group D[the percentage of positive cells was(19.58±4.94)%] was lower than that in the kidneys from rats of group B[(42.17±8.52)%](P0.01).The expression of iNOS in the kidneys from rats of group D [the value of absorbance was(0.167 3±0.012 2)] was significantly lower than that in the kidneys from rats of group B[(0.325 4±0.027 6)](P0.05). Conclusion The sustained activation of NF-κB and iNOS along with the progress of pathological changes in the diabetic kidney may play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy and glurenorm may exert protective effects on the kidney by inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and iNOS.