Discussion
After HK capsule treatment for 4 weeks, the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in db/db mice was found to be significantly decreased. The activities of col4a3, slc5a2, slc34a1, slc12a3, and slc4a1 in the kidneys were upregulated in db/db mice prior to the treatment but downregulated after HK capsule treatment. Further analyses of the fields of whole kidney tissue sections demonstrated that the number of nephrons in the kidneys of db/db mice with HK capsule treatment was higher than that in the kidneys of db/db mice without HK capsule treatment. Thereby, the current study provides experimental evidence confirming the medical efficacy of A. manihot in the reduction of albuminuria and proteinuria, suggesting that A. manihot may have pharmacological efficacy in the regression of the development of type 2 diabetes-DN.
Methods
Huangkui capsules (0.84 g/kg/d) or vehicle were administered daily via oral gavage for 4 weeks in db/db mice. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and blood glucose levels were measured during the whole experimental period. Five biomarkers in the glomerulus and proximal and distal convoluted tubules in the kidneys were selected, namely, col4a3, slc5a2, slc34a1, slc12a3, and slc4a1, and their activities at mRNA and protein levels before and after HK capsule treatment were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Result and