TSF attenuates renal injury in DN rats.

(A) Blood glucose. Blood glucose levels in DN rats are significantly increased after STZ-injection and high-fat-diet induction and maintained at equal higher levels during the 20 weeks. TSF-treated rats exhibit no effect on blood glucose level. (B) Microalbuminuria. DN rats without TSF treatment show more severe microalbuminuria than those with TSF treatment over 4–20 weeks. (C) Histology (PAS staining, original magnification, × 400; Masson’s trichrome staining, original magnification, × 200) and semi-quantification of mesangial matrix and tubular injury. Data are expressed as means ± SE for each group of 9 rats. *P< 0.05, **P<0.01 TSF-treated group vs. DN group; ^#P< 0.05, ^##P< 0.01, ^###P< 0.001 DN group vs. normal group.