Objective : This study was undertaken to determine whether Hominis Placenta(HP) aqua-acupuncture exerts renoprotective effect on diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin(STZ) in rats.
Methods : In order to study the renoprotective effect of HP aqua-acupuncture, experimental animals were divided into 5 groups and treated for 2 weeks as follows: control group was injected subcutaneously by saline aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, 5% HP aqua-acupuncture group was injected subcutaneously by 5% HP aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, 10% HP aqua-acupuncture group was injected subcutaneously by 10% HP aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in STZ induced diabetic rats, normal group was injected subcutaneously by saline aqua-acupuncture into Sinsu(BL23) in normal rats, and Captopril group was administrated with captopril at a dose of 50㎎/㎏ in STZ induced diabetic rats.
Results : While HP aqua-acupuncture did not reduce any body weight, index of kidney hypertrophy, the plasma glucose concentration and BUN respectively, HP aqua-acupuncture showed lowering urinary albumin excretion rate and serum creatinine as compared with the control group. Gene and protein expressions of TGF-β1 and fibronectin in kidney, one of the extracellular matrix proteins were investigated. There were significant differences in expression levels in HP aqua-acupuncture group as compared with the control group, and 100㎍/㎖ and 500㎍/㎖ of HP depressed apoptosis, showing in a dose dependent manner. In the HE staining, HP aqua-acupuncture inhibited the injury of glomerulus and proximal convoluted tubule.
Conclusions : HP aqua-acupuncture showed the renoprotective effect possibly through suppressions of TGF-β1 and fibronectin expressions in kidney.
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