Effect of Catalpol on Renal PKC Signaling Pathway in Diabetic Rats

WANG Yitao; JIANG Yaqian; LI Fengxiang; SHI Bohan; YIN Shengxin; LI Zongze

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2096-305X.2025.03.004

Abstract：Objective To establish an animal model of type 2 diabetes nephropathy by intraperitoneal injection of STZ into SD rats,and to investigate the protective effect of catalpol on the kidney of type 2 diabetes rats and its possible molecular mechanism.Methods 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group.The model group rats were intraperitoneally injected with STZ to establish an animal model of diabetes nephropathy.The successfully modeled rats were divided into a catalpol protection group and a model group.The catalpol protection group rats were given a daily dose of 150 mg/kg of catalpol by gavage,while the model group was given a daily dose of physiological saline by gavage.After 8 weeks,the 24-hour urinary protein content of each group of rats was detected using a reagent kit;HE,MASSON,PAS staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the kidneys in each group of rats;Western Blot was used to detect the expression of kidney related proteins in each group of rats.Results Compared with the control group,the urinary protein content of the model group rats was significantly increased(P<0.05),and pathological changes such as decreased cell number,increased spheroid volume,and increased neovascularization were observed in the glomeruli.The expression of p-PKC and MCP-1 was significantly upregulated(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the urinary protein content,renal morphology,and p-PKC and MCP-1 were significantly improved in the catalpol protection group.Conclusion Catalpol has a protective effect on the kidney of type 2 diabetes rats,and the mechanism of this protective effect may be related to the down-regulation of p-PKC and MCP-1 levels.