Protective effect of losartan on kidney of diabetic rats

Objective To observe the protective effects of losartan on kidney of diabetic rats.Methods The Sprague Dawley rats with diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin,and then were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group(NC group),diabetic model group(DM group) and losartan treatment group(LOS group).Rats in LOS group were treated by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/(kg·d) of losartan,while those in NC group and DM group were administered by the same volume of saline.12 weeks later,the mass index of kidney,blood sugar,urea nitrogen,serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER) were detected,the concentrations of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in urine and blood was determined,renal hypertrophy index was calculated,and glomerular pathological changes were observed.Results The mass index of kidney,blood sugar,urea nitrogen,serum creatinine and UAER were obviously increased(P 0.01 or P 0.05),and the concentrations of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in urine and blood were notably increased in DM group(P 0.01 or P 0.05),which were significantly higher than those in in LOS group.The changes of renal pathology in LOS group were improved.Conclusion Losartan can reduce the levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in the blood and urine,reduce the urinary protein excretion,which contributes to the protection of renal function.