Figure 7
CQ and AQ increased pAMPKα expression and ameliorated albuminuria and renal morphologic changes in the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic mice. CQ (50 mg/kg) or AQ (20 mg/kg) were administered every other day for 14 weeks in treatment groups. (A) pAMPKα and pPGC1α activity restoration was confirmed by immunoblot analysis in diabetic kidneys treated with CQ or AQ. Band intensities representing pAMPKα, pPGC1α and GAPDH expression levels were converted into densitometry using ImageJ software in the ratios of E-cad, α-SMA, and fibronectin to GAPDH. Data are means ± SEM. (B) The STZ-induced diabetes group had higher HgA1C levels than the normal control group. (C) However, CQ- and AQ-treated STZ-induced diabetic mice exhibited a significant reduction in the urine albumin excretion rate compared with diabetic control mice. (D,E) Tubular dilatation and tubular epithelial disruption were observed in the diabetic control group. Treating STZ-induced diabetic mice with CQ or AQ attenuated these abnormalities while causing less cellular disruption. (F,G) Representative of photographs of Masson’s trichrome-stained kidneys showing that decreased numbers of renal fibrotic lesions were present in the CQ and AQ groups compared with the diabetic control group. (n = 5 per group, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.0001 vs Normal, #p < 0.05, ###p < 0.0001 vs DM control).
