Decreased glomerular proteinase activity in the streptozotocin diabetic rat. |
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| Authors: | R H Song A K Singh D J Leehey |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Ill., and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Ill., USA. |
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| Abstract: | Decreased glomerular proteinase activity may contribute to matrix accumulation in diabetes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 65 mg/kg i.v.; age-matched, sham-injected rats served as controls. Glomeruli from diabetic rats 1 month after STZ injection demonstrated significant decreases in collagenase and cathepsin B activities compared to control glomeruli. Treatment with insulin resulted in a slight (but not significant) increase in collagenase activity and normalized cathepsin B activity. We conclude that decreased glomerular collagenase and cathepsin B activities are present in STZ diabetes. These alterations may contribute to mesangial matrix accumulation. |
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