Effect of Curcumin on Kidneys in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of curcumin on renal lesions in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. Methods Diabetic rats were randomly divided into sham operated group,uninephrectomized group,diabetic group and diabetic group treated with curcumin with 8 rats in each group.Two weeks after operation rats were given the diet rich in fat and sugar for 4 weeks.The rats were injected twice with one week interval intraperitoneally with low dose of streptozotocin 30 mg·kg-1 in diabetic group and curcumin-treated group,or citrate buffer in sham-operated group and uninephrectomized group.Two weeks after the second injection the blood sugar,creatinine clearance,24 h urinary albumnin excretion,the expression of NFκB(immunohistochemistry) and TLR2mRNA(RT-PCR) as well as renal morphology were determined and compared among the groups. Results Treatment with curcumin could markedly decrease Ccr and urinary albumin excretion compared with diabetic rats.The blood sugar had no difference between them.After treatment with curcumin the expression of NFκBp65 in nucleus was decreased and renal pathologic changes were improved while the TLR2 mRNA in kidney had no change. Conclusion Curcumin can ameliorate renal lesions in diabetic rats,and the possible mechanism is correlated with suppressing NFκBp65 translocation into the nucleus,but not suppressing TLR2 mRNA expression.