Abstract

BACKGROUND
The renin-angiotensin system(RAS) plays an important role in the physiologic regulation of the renal microcirculation and may contribute to the imbalance of resistances present at the preglomerular and postglomerular sites whirh are responsible for glomerular capillary hypertension, a major injurious factor in the diabetic kidney. Blockade of angiotensin(Ang II) with angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitor or Ang II receptor antagonists reduces glomerular injury. However, the relationship between diabetes and the RAS is unclear. METHOD: To investigate changes of gene expression of the renal renin-angiotensin system in diabetic nephropathy, mRNA levels of the RAS components were determined with the methods of Northern blot and RT-PCR in streptozotocin-induced diabetic(STZ-D) rats. Sprague-Dawley rats(240~260 g) were made diabetic by double i.p. injections of 45 mg/kg STZ. Result: Plasma renin concentration increased significantly at the onset of diabetes, and then suppressed at 4 and 8 week sof diabetes. Changes in renal renin content and mRNA levels were in parallel with plasma renin concentration during 8 weeks of diabetes. Renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels of the STZ-D rats decreased initially and then returned to the baseline with the progression of diabetes. Gene expression of angiotensin II-AT1 receptor subtypes, AT1a and AT1b, was not significantly changed during 8 wk of diabetes. Plasma and renal ACE activity increased significantly at 4 and 8 wk of diabetes. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study show a marked decrease in renal renin mRNA levels and renin concentration, but significant increase in ACE activity in chronic diabetic rats. When considering renoprotective effect of ACE inhibitors and AT receptor antagonists, the present result may suggest an increased intrarenal generation of Ang II and its pathophysiologic role in diabetic nephropathy. However, further studies are required to clarify meanings of the differential activation of the renal renin-angiotensin system components in diabetic rats.

• Keywords: STZ;diabetic rat;renin-angiotensin system, Northern blot;RT-PCR;kidney;