Objective:To investigate the influence of sodium selenite on adiponectin expression in kidney of rats with diabetic nephropathy and the relation between sodium selenite and adiponectin,so as to investigate the role of sodium selenite and adiponectin in diabetic nephropathy.Methods: Diabetic nephropathy rat models were established by injecting streptozocin intraperitoneally and high fat diet.The study was divided into 3 groups,namely,a control group,a diabetic nephropathy group and a selenite-treated group.Animals in the selenite-treated group were given selenite solution 1 ?g/kg daily via intragastric administration; those in the other 2 groups were given the same dose of saline in the same way.The animals were sacrificed 10 weeks later and the blood and urine samples were used for biochemical examination.Samples of renal cortex were cut quickly and fixed with 4% glutaral for observation under scanning electron microscope.The renal samples were made into paraffin section for observation of the pathological changes under light microscope and for location of protein expression via immunohistochemistry analysis.The expression of adiponectin mRNA and protein was examined by real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively.Results: The general condition and biochemical parameters of animals in the selenite-treated group were obviously improved and the pathological changes were obviously releived compared with those in the diabetic nephropathy group.Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expression of adiponection in the selenite-treated group was obviously stronger than that in the diabetic nephropathy group,and the expression was found in both glomcrulus and renal tubule.The expression of adiponectin mRNA in the selenite-treated group and diabetic nephropathy group was 2.043 and 1.373 folds that of the control group,respectively.The expression of adiponectin protein in the selenite-treated group was significantly higher than those in the control group and diabetic nephropathy group (P

Objective To investigate the influence of sodium selenite on the expression of adiponectin and nephrin in the kidney of rats with diabetic nephropathy, the relation of sodium selenite with adiponectin and nephrin, and to study the roles played by these factors in diabetic nephropathy. Methods Rat models of diabetic nephropathy were established by injecting intraperitoneally streptozocin combined with high fat diet. Three groups of rats were employed: control group, diabetic nephropathy group, and selenite-treated group. The selenite-treated rats were given selenite solution by intragastric administration every day, and other groups were given same volume of saline. After 10 weeks, all rats were sacrificed, blood and urine samples were collected. The kidneys were used to observe pathological changes with light microscope, and to locate protein expression with immunohistochemistry analysis. The mRNA and protein expressions of adiponectin and nephrin were analyzed via real-time PCR, RT PCR, and Western blot. Results The basic condition, biochemical parameters, and pathological images in selenite-treated group were better than those in diabetic nephropathy group. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expression of adiponectin was in both glomeruli and renal tubules in selenite-treated group, and the coloration was enhanced as compared with diabetic nephropathy group. The mRNA and protein expressions of adiponectin in selenite-treated group were significantly higher than those in diabetic nephropathy group and the control group (all P＜0. 05 ). Nephrin expression in selenite-treated group was also higher than that in diabetic nephropathy group, but lower than that in control group. Conclusion Sodium selenite can enhance the mRNA and protein expressions of adiponectin and nephrin in kindey of rats with diabetic nephropathy. Sodium selenite,adiponectin, and nephrin may play important roles in delaying and preventing the development of diabetic nephropathy.