DIFFERENTIAL RENAL GENE EXPRESSION IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC RATS AFTER ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS TREATMENT

Objective To find the genes involved in pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy using gene chip technology. Methods We established a type 1 diabetic rat model by streptozotocin injection and divided these diabetic rats into two groups: diabetic rats group(D group) and diabetic rats group treated with Astragalus Membranaceus (DA group). The renal tissue was collected and total RNA was extracted for gene chips. With the help of gene chip, we tried to discover the differential-displayed genes between these two groups. Results Totally 201 differential-displayed genes were found between the two groups, among which 126 genes were up-regulated and 75 genes were down-regulated in the rat renal tissue. Conclusion With gene chip results, we find several genes which are associated with diabetes in the rat renal tissue. The further research on the function of these genes will be helpful to understand the mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.