EFFECT OF IRBESARTAN ON THE EXPRESSION OF MMP-9,TIMP-1 IN KIDNEY TISSUES OF DIABETES MELLITUS RATS

[Objective]To investigate the protective effects of Irbesartan on renal lesion in diabetic rats.[Methods]The diabetic SD rats were induced by STZ,divided into three groups:normal control group,diabetic control group and Irbesartan group.After experimental rats in every group were respectively treated for 12 weeks by above intervention methods.The relative kidney weight,blood sugar,urea nitrogen,serum creatinine,and urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER)were detected by normal methods,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in renal tissue were respectively detected by immunohistochemical techniques,and ultramicrostructure of kidney was observed by transmission electron microscope.[Results]Compared with normal control group,the expressions of MMP-9 were decreased in diabetic control group(P﹤0.01).The expressions of MMP-9 in Irbesartan group were higher than those in diabetic control group(P﹤0.01),but they were still lower than those in normal control group(P﹤0.01).Compared with normal control group,the expression of TIMP-1 was increased in diabetic control group(P﹤0.01).The expression of TIMP-1 in Irbesartan group were lower than those in diabetic control group(P﹤0.01),but they were still higher than that in normal control group(P﹤0.01).The ultramicrostructure of kidney was noticeably changed,and the blood sugar,UAER,urea nitrogen,serum creatinine,and relative kidney weight were significantly increased in diabetic rats.While the above indexes in group Irbesartan group was significantly lower than in diabetic control group(P﹤0.01).[Conclusion]The changes of the expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 decrease the degradation extracellular matrix,which promote the occurrence and progress of diabetic nephropathy.Irbesartan may attenuate the occurrence and progress of diabetic nephropathy through intervening this change.