Correlation between renal fibrosis and protein expression of renal connective tissue growth factor in rats with diabetic nephropathy

Objective To investigate the relationship between renal fibrosis and protein expression of renal connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN) . Methods 18 rat models of DN was established by the intraperitonea injection of streptozotocin (STZ) , and then were divided into 4-week group (n =6) , 12-week group (n =6) and 24-week group (n =6) , and 18 rats were included as control group , [which wew , randomly dividing 4-week group, 12-week group and 24-week group (each n =6)]. The level of renal CTGF was detected by immunohistochemistry technique respectively at different time points, and pathological changes were observed simultaneously. Results The level of CTGF was higher in DN group than that in control group at all time points, and increased gradually with the development of the disease (P0.05) . The level of CTGF was (0.88±0.05)×103 / μm2 vs . (0.41±0.06)×103/μm2 on the 4th week, (0.29±0.05)×103 / μm2 vs . (0.60±0.05)×103 / μm2 on the 12th week, and (3.13±0.08) ×103 / μm2 vs . (1.50±0.05) ×103/ μm2 on the 24th week (P0.05) . The level of CTGF was positively related to the correlation coefficients of renal fibrosis indexes including PVCA (r =0.89) , GCDS (r =0.87) , TIDS (r =0.76) and Ms/Gs (r =0.82, P0.05) . Conclusion The expression of CTGF may be related to renal fibrosis, so terting of CTGF can be taken as an important method for prognose renal fibrosis.