EFFECTS OF BENAZEPRIL ON APOPTOSIS IN THE KIDNEY OF DIABETIC RATS

AIM To investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on apoptosis and the expression of Fas and Fas L in the kidney of diabetic rats. METHODS Uninephrectomized Spraque Dawley rats were used to induce diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg·kg^-1 ). Benazepril (10 mg·kg^-1 ) was given daily by gavage from the next day of the induction to diabetes for 12 weeks. Apoptosis was evaluated by means of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling ( TUNEL ). Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of Fas and Fas-L. RESULTS Compared with those in the kidneys of control group, apoptotic cells were more in number and the expression of Fas and Fas-L was higher in the diabetic kidneys ( P <0.05). The number of apoptotic cells and the level of expression of Fas and Fas-L were reduced by benazepril treatment ( P <0.05). CONCLUSION Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril showed some renal protective effect on diabetic nephropathy, party through inhibiting apoptosis by down-regulating Fas and Fas-L expression.