Impact of Light Ethanol Intake and of Taurine, Separately and Together, on Pathways of Glucose Metabolism in the Kidney of Diabetic Rats

摘要

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by anatomical, structural and functional changes leading to thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, microaneurysm, damaged small blood vessels, organ dysfunction, renal failure and even death (Fowler 2008). The development and progression of these diabetic complication is closely associated with chronic hyperglycemia, which is regarded as the driving force of diabetic vascular complications through a multitude of metabolic and structural derangements, including the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and advanced glycated end products, overexpression of several growth factors, and the activation of signaling cascades and inflammatory cells (Cade 2008; Galkina and Ley 2006). Additional common risk factors are insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, smoking, dietary factors (Cade 2008; Gross et al. 2005) and a familial predisposition (Tarnow et al. 2000).