Effect of rosiglitazone on expression and excretion of connective tissue growth factor in renal tissue and urinary of diabetic rats

Aim To study the effect of rosiglitazone(RGZ)on expression and excretion of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in renal tissue and urinary of diabetic nephropathy rats.Methods Three groups of rats were studied:normal control group(n=8),STZ-induced diabetic model group(n=8),diabetes RGZ-treatment group(n=8).Urinary CTGF was measured at the 1 st,4 th,6 th and 8 th week,as well as the expressions of CTGF protein(by histochemical staining)at the 8 th week by ELISA.Results The urinary excretion rates of CTGF at 4 th、6 th、8 th weeks and the expressions of CTGF protein in renal cortex at 8th weeks significantly increased in STZ-induced model group compared with those in normal group(P0.01);RGZ-treatment decreased significantly the urinary excretion rates of CTGF and the expressions of CTGF protein in renal cortex compared with those in model group(P0.01).Conclusion Rosiglitazone can suppress the expressions of CTGF protein in renal cortex,as well as the urinary excretion rates of CTGF in diabetic rats,which suggest that the renal protective effects of Rosiglitazone maybe partly due to its effects of down-regulating the CTGF production of renal tissue.