Blockade of Oxidative Stress by Vitamin C Ameliorates Albuminuria and Renal Sclerosis in Experimental Diabetic Rats.
10.3349/ymj.2007.48.5.847
- Author:
Eun Young LEE
1
;
Mi Young LEE
;
Soon Won HONG
;
Choon Hee CHUNG
;
Sae Yong HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Apoptosis;
diabetic nephropathy;
oxidative stress;
slit pore;
vitamin C
- MeSH:
Albuminuria/*drug therapy;
Animals;
Antioxidants/*therapeutic use;
Apoptosis/drug effects;
Ascorbic Acid/*therapeutic use;
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*drug therapy/pathology;
Diabetic Nephropathies/*drug therapy/pathology;
Kidney/*pathology;
Male;
Oxidative Stress/*drug effects;
Rats;
Rats, Inbred OLETF;
Sclerosis
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2007;48(5):847-855
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a role as a common mediator of apoptosis and kidney damage in diabetes. However, it is uncertain whether the apoptosis occurs in the kidney during the course of diabetes. We investigated the occurrence of apoptosis in the diabetic rat kidney, the role of oxidative stress and the effect of an antioxidant on apoptosis in the diabetic rat kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima-Fatty rats, an animal model for type 2 diabetes, were randomized into a non-treated diabetic (n=8) and a vitamin C-treated group (n=8). Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats (n=8) were used as a control. RESULTS: Apoptosis was present in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules in diabetic rats. The number of apoptotic cells, albuminuria, proteinuria, glomerular and tubulointerstitial sclerosis, and renal malondialdehyde were significantly decreased in vitamin C-treated diabetic rats when compared to the untreated diabetic rats. The decreased slit pore density (number of slit pores per underlying glomerular basement membrane length) as assessed by electron microscopy was also significantly restored by treatment with vitamin C without significantly affecting plasma glucose in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: By blocking these pathophysiologic processes, a blockade of oxidative stress by vitamin C might become a useful adjunct to albuminuria and renal sclerosis in diabetic nephropathy.
