Effect of haikunshenxi on the protection for kidney and the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and mRNA expression in kidney of diabetic rats

Objective: To study the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and mRNA in the renal tubules of STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:normal control (n=10) and diabetic nephropathy group (n=50). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. And the diabetic rats were randomly divided into model group, irbesartan treatment group, haikunshenxi at low and high doses treatment group. Twenty four-hour urine volume,24-hour urinary protein excretion were examined at weeks 4,8,and 12. All rats were sacrificed at week 12; body weight,kidney weight,and serum excretion,serum creatinine,blood urea nitroge were improved by haikunshenxi preparation. The expression of MCP-1 and mRNA in rat kidney were detected respectively by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results: The expression of MCP-1and mRNA in haikunshenxi treatment group was depressed greatly in the renal tubular epithelial cell and renal interstitial cell (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Haikunshenxi can inhibit the overexpression of MCP-1 and mRNA in kidney of diabetic rats and delay the progress of diabetic nephropathy.