Abstract:To evaluate the protective effects of betaine on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in db/db mice, 7 months old db/db mice were randomly divided into negative control group (physiological saline), positive control group (Zhibituo), low (200 mg/kg), middle (400 mg/kg) and high dose (800 mg/kg) betaine group. The mice were fed by high-fat diet to induce DN. After being intragastric administrated by betaines for 6 weeks, the kidney paraffin sections were prepared and the pathological changes were analyzed based on staining, the body weight and BUN, GLU, TC, TG, LDL, TNF-α, TGF-β1 level were also investigated. The results showed that the glomerular basement membrane in the betaine and Zhibituo treatment group did not thicken; extracellular matrix, the glycogen material deposition and fiber content reduced; protein casts and inflammatory cell infiltration disappeared. Furthermore, the structure of renal tubule gradually returned to normal; the body weight and BUN, GLU, TG, TC, LDL, TNF-α, TGF-β1 level were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) by 11.5 g, 3.0 mM, 5.3 mM, 3.1 mM, 0.42 mM, 0.64 mM, 21 ng/L and 30 ng/L, respectively. It can be speculated that betaine has a hypoglycemic activity, lipid-lowering effect, and protective effect on the kidney injury of db/db mice. It may delay or inhibit the inflammatory process of the capillary vessel in diabetic nephropathy.
