The Expression and Significance of HIF-1α in Kidney Tissue of Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective To explore the expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 α(HIF-1α) and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and the relation between them and microvascular pathologic changes in kidney tissue of rats with diabetic nephropathy.Methods The kidneys were obtained from streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats at 2、4、8、12、16 weeks and rats as age-matched control group,respectively.Then the expression levels of HIF-1α and HO-1 were determined with immunohistochemistry SP detection methods and image analysis in renal paraffin section of rats with diabetic nephropathy.Results Immunohistochemistry showed that HIF-1α was expressed in STZ-induced diabetic rats and the control group and the difference was significant between them(P0.01).The expression of HO-1 was very low in the control group and high in the model group,and the difference was significant(P0.01).The expression levels of HIF-1α and HO-1 reached the peak at 8 weeks in in the model group.The expression of HIF-1α and HO-1 was direct correlation in tubular epithelial cells of the model group.Conclusion The expression of HIF-1α and HO-1 are upregulated in the diabetic nephropathy.The hypoxic condition exists in diabetic nephropathy,and it is connected possibly with the renal microvascular dysfunction and development of the diabetic nephropathy.