Effects of Puerarin on the Pathological Change and Protein and mRNA Expressions of BMP-7 in Renal Tissue of Rats with Early Diabetic Nephropathy

OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of puerarin on the pathological change and protein and mRNA expressions of bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7) in the kidney of rats with early diabetic nephropathy(DN).METHODS:Early DN rat model was induced by streptozotocin(STZ).The rats were divided into normal control group,model group,enalapril group(1 mg/kg)and puerarin high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups(200,100,50 mg/kg).They were given medicines intragastrically once a day for consecutive 5 weeks.After the last administration,the urinary volume,body weight,24 h urine volume,kidney weight/body weight,FBG,BUN,Scr,insulin(Ins),24 h urinary protein(Upro)and 24 h urinary microalbumin(UmAlb)were tested;the pathological changes and ultrastructures in renal tissue of DN rats were observed by optical and electron micrograph.Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of BMP-7 in the renal tissue of rats.RESULTS:Compared with model,FBG,KW/BW,BUN,Scr of puerarin high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups decreased while BW,Ins level and protein and mRNA expression of BMP-7 increased;the pathological changes and ultrastructureal lesion in renal tissue of DN rats were improved(P0.01 or P0.05).24 h urine volume,24 h Upro,24 h UmAlb in Pue high-dose,medium-dose groups decreased(P0.01 or P0.05).CONCLUSION:Puerarin can obviously improve renal function and increase the protein and mRNA expression of BMP-7 in kidney tissue,and delay the progression of DN in DN model rats.