Objective: To explore effects of valsartan on expression changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor Flk-1 in diabetic rat kidney.
Methods: To establish the diabetic nephropathy (DN) rat models and divide the experiment rats into three groups--the DN group, the valsartan group and the control group, and use the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western Blotting and immunohistochemical techniques to detect the expression of VEGF and Flk-1, and detect the urine protein and glomerular area and volume, then analyze the relationship of the data.
Results: The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and Flk-1, the urine protein and glomerular area and volume in the DN were higher than those in the control group and valsartan group (P < 0.05). VEGF and Flk-1 were positively correlated with the urine protein and glomerular area and volume (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: VEGF and Flk-1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of DN, of which over-expression may lead to the damage of kidney. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist--valsartan can protect kidney through the non-hemodynamic mechanism of inhibiting the abnormal expression of VEGF and Flk-1.