Effect of Tongxinluo on Nephrin Expression via Inhibition of Notch1/Snail Pathway in Diabetic Rats

Figure 5

Effect of TXL on podocyte injury in diabetic rats and in high glucose cultured podocyte. (a) Comparison of UAE in three groups (). At the beginning of our study, UAE was not significantly different in three groups. At the end of 4, 8, and 12 weeks, UAE was increased in a time-dependent manner in DN group. Compared with DN group, UAE was decreased in TXL group at the end of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. (b) Representative photograph of podocyte foot process by electron microscopy. Compared with NC group, podocyte foot became fused and flattened in DN group. TXL significantly ameliorated podocyte foot effacement in diabetic rats. (c) Representative photograph of apoptotic cells by Hoechst 33258 staining (arrows indicate cell nuclear condensation). (d) Representative photograph of podocyte cytoskeleton by phalloidin staining. In NC group and MA group, podocyte cytoskeleton was normally arranged as long stress fiber-like bundles. In HG group, intracellular actin stress fibers were abolished and placed by cortical actin web, resulting in a polygonal cellular shape. (e) Comparison of apoptotic cells in three groups. The average number of apoptotic cells was assessed in 10 random fields per group. Compared with NC group, apoptotic cells were significantly increased in HG group . Apoptotic cells were significantly decreased in TXL group compared with HG group . versus NG. versus HG.

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