Effects of Danqi Mixture and Enalapril on Expression of VEGF mRNA in Kidney of Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective:To investigate the effects of Danqi mixture and enalapril on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1),and fibronectin(FN),of rats with diabetic nephropathy.Methods:Twenty-four SD male rats were randomly divided into normal control group(group C),diabetic group(group D),diabetic enalapril-treated group(group E),and diabetic Danqi-treated group(group Y)with 6 rats in each.The diabetic rat model was produced with injection of streptozotocin.Blood glucose(BG),triglyceride,cholesterol,creatinine,and 24 h urine protein(UP)were analyzed with biochemical methods in 12 weeks and kidney indexes were analyzed as well.The pathomorphology of kidneys were examined with HE staining sections.Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of TGF-β1 and FN protein in renal tissue of all groups.The mRNA levels of VEGF in renal cortex were examined by using RT-PCR.Results:The levels of BG,triglyceride,cholesterol,creatinine,UP,and kidney indexes were higher remarkably in group D than those in group C.The parameters mentioned above except BG and KI in groups E and Y were notably lower than those in group D.Only a little FN protein expression and almost no expression of TGF-β1 could be seen in group C,while the expression of TGF-β1 and protein FN and VEGF mRNA content were significantly higher in group D than those in group C(P0.01).In groups E and Y,the expression of TGF-β1 and the protein FN decreased compared with those in group D(P0.01).Compared with that of group C,the expression of VEGF mRNA was remarkably higher in group D(P0.05).In groups E and Y,the expression of the VEGF mRNA was lower than in group D.Conclusion:Danqi mixture and enalapril have protective effect to kidney of diabetic rats,which may relate to the down-regulation of VEGF expressions in nephridial tissues.