Protective Effect of Sulodexide on Podocyte Injury in Adriamycin Nephropathy Rats

This study examined the effect of sulodexide on podocyte injury in rats with adriamycin nephropathy （AN）. A total of 36 healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned to three groups： control group, AN group and sulodexide treatment group. Rat models of AN were established by a single tail intravenous injection of adriamycin （6.5 mg/kg） in both AN group and sulodexide treatment group. Sulodexide （10 mg/kg） was administered the rats in the treatment group once daily by garage from the first day of model establishment until the 14th day or the 28th day. Samples of 24-h urine and renal cortex tissues were harvested at day 14, 28 after the model establishment. Excretion of 24-h urinary protein was measured by Coomassie brilliant blue method. The pathological changes in renal tissues were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy respectively. Heparanase mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Expressions of desmin, CD2AP and heparanase were determined by immunohistological staining. The results showed that the expressions of heparanase mRNA and protein were increased in the glomeruli of AN rats at day 14 and 28 after the model establishment, which was accompanied by the increased expression of desmin and CD2AP. The mRNA and protein expression of heparanase was decreased in the sulodexide-treated rats as compared with AN rats at day 14 and 28. And, the protein expression of desmin and CD2AP was reduced as with heparanase in the sulodexide-treated rats. Proteinuria and podocyte foot process effacement were alleviated in the AN rats after sulodexide treatment. There was a positive correlation between the expression of heparanase and the expression of desmin and CD2AP （as well as 24-h urinary protein excretion）. It was concluded that increased heparanase is involved in podocyte injury. Sulodexide can maintain and restore podocyte morphology by inhibiting the expression of heparanase in AN.

Protective effects of astragaloside in rats with adriamycin nephropathy and underlying mechanism

The present study was designed to determine the mechanism underlying the treatment of nephrotic syndrome using astragaloside by observing the effects of astragaloside on the expression of nephrin and podocin proteins and genes in kidneys of rats with adriamycin nephropathy. The rats were injected with adriamycin and, after successful model establishment, randomly divided into a model group, a Methylprednisolone(MP) group, and an astragaloside group. The 24-h complete urine samples were collected. Biochemical indicators were monitored, and kidney tissues were collected for pathological analysis using light microscopy and electron microscopy. The m RNA expression of nephrin and podocin was measured in the kidney tissues using the real-time q PCR, and the protein expression levels of nephrin and podocin were detected using Western blot analysis. At the end of 12 weeks of drug intervention, the urinary protein level was lower in the MP and astragaloside groups than that in the model group(P = 0.008 and P = 0.01, respectively). Serum albumin was higher in the MP and astragaloside groups than in the model group(P < 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively). Podocytes in the MP group were nearly normal, and fusion of podocytes in the astragaloside group was significantly less than that in the control group. The nephrin and podocin m RNA and protein expression levels in the intervention groups were higher(P < 0.05) than that in the model group. Due to the increased expression of podocyte-related nephrin and podocin proteins, astragaloside maintained slit diaphragm integrity and decreased the level of proteinuria in rats with adriamycin nephropathy.

Effects of the Combined Use of Benazepril and Valsartan on Apoptosis in the Kidney of Rats with Adriamycin-induced Nephritic Glomerulosclerosis

Summary: The effects of the combined use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) benazepril and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor antagonist (AT1RA) valsartan on apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Fas and FasL in the kidney of rats with adriamycin-induced nephritic glomerulosclerosis was investigated. Uninephrectomy and the injection of adriamycin induced the rat model of glomerulosclerosis. Benazepril (6 mg/kg), valsantan (20 mg/kg), or benazepril (3 mg/kg) plus valsantan (20 mg/kg) was respectively delivered daily by gavage to the rats in three treatment groups for 12 weeks. Apoptosis was examined by means of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect the expression of Fas and FasL. Software of pathological analysis quantitated the levels of Fas and FasL. The results showed that as compared with those in the control group, the kidneys in the model group had more severe glomerulosclerosis, much more apoptotic cells and higher levels of expression of Fas and FasL. The degree of glomerulosclerosis, the number of apoptotic cells and the levels of expression of Fas and FasL were reduced by benazepril and valsartan. The combined use of benazepril and valsartan had the best therapeutic effect. It was concluded that benazepril and valsartan could suppress the excessive apoptosis of kidney cells by lowering the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins Fas and FasL, so as to postpone the process of glomerulosclerosis. The combined use of benazepril and valsartan has better therapeutic effect.

The Study on the Relationship between Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Proteinuria in Adriamycin induced Nephrotic Rats

To study the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proteinuria in adriamycin induced nephrotic rats, a rat model of adriamycin induced nephrotitis was developed by injection of adriamycin into a tail vein in a rat. At different time points, 24 h urinary protein excretion was measured by using Coomassie brilliant blue method and the serum VEGF levels detected by using ELISA assay. The interventional effect of VEGF on this model was observed. The results showed that: (1) The adriamycin induced nephrotic syndrome rat model was developed successfully; (2) Serum VEGF levels and proteinuria were significantly increased at 7th day after intravenous injection of adriamycin. There was a positive correlation between serum VEGF levels and 24 h urinary protein excretion ( r=0.67, P <0.05). (3) The 24 h urinary protein excretion was significantly increased in the rats receiving administration of VEGF ( P <0.05). It was concluded that VEGF might play an important role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria in adriamycin induced nephrotic rats.