Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of Shenshao oral liquid on expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress factors GRP78, PERK and CHOP in rat models of diabetic nephropathy. Methods A total of 30 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sham group, model group (DN group) and Shenshao oral liquid group (SS group). Animals in DN group and SS group were fed with high fat diet in addition to intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Rats in SS group were administrated with Shenshao oral liquid (250 mg/kg) daily, and distilled water were administered daily into rats from Sham group and DN group. Blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Scr) and 24-hour urinary protein (PRO) were measured 12 weeks post insults. Histopathological changes in renal tissue were graded through HE staining. Expression levels of GRP78, PERK and CHOP in kidney were measured by Western blot. Apoptosis rate were determined by TUNEL staining. Results Blood glucose, BUN, Scr and PRO in rats from DN group were significantly increased compared with Sham group (P < 0.05), which were attenuated with treatment of Shenshao oral liquid (P < 0.05). HE staining showed that morphological abnormality was observed in DN group including enlarged glomerular volume, inflammatory cell infiltration, glomerular mesangial stromal hyperplasia, tubular basement membrane thickening, and glomerular and tubular fibrosis. Above histopathological deterioration of renal tissue was significantly ameliorated by treatment of Shenshao oral liquid (P < 0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of GRP78, PERK and CHOP in renal tissue of DN group were significantly increased when compared with Sham group, which was decreased in SS group. TUNEL staining manifested that increased apoptosis rate in DN group ( < 0.05) in comparison with Sham group could be attenuated in SS group (P <0.05). Conclusions Shenshao oral liquid reduces development of diabetic nephropathy, restoring renal function in dependence of manipulation on endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors GRP78, PERK, CHOP and apoptosis.