Objective: To study the effects of Tongxinluo submicron powder combined with Jinlida granules on protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signal transduction pathway in rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN). Method: The 80 SD rats were divided into normal group

model group

irbesartan group (25 mg · kg-1 · d-1)

Tonxinluo submicron powder group(0.8 g · kg-1 · d-1)

Jinlida granules group(1.5 g · kg-1 · d-1) and Tonxinluo plus Jinlida group(0.8+1.5 g · kg-1 · d-1). Rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) by tail intravenous injection to establish diabetes mellitus (DM) models. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in renal tissues was detected with immunohistochemical assay of SP. The expression of Akt and mTOR proteins in Akt/mTOR signal transduction pathway as well as the expression of corresponding phosphorylated proteins p-Akt and p-mTOR were detected by Western blot. Result: The expression of VEGF was significantly enhanced in model group compared with the normal group

and the expression of VEGF in various medication groups was weakened by different degrees compared with the model group. The results of Tongxinluo submicron powder plus Jinlida granules group were more close to the results in normal group. There were no statistical differences in total protein expression of Akt and downstream molecules mTOR between all groups;while the expression of p-Akt and p-mTOR was significantly enhanced in the model group compared with the normal group (P<0.01)

and the expression was significantly reduced in various medication groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: Tongxinluo submicron powder combined with Jinlida granules could suppress the activation of Akt/mTOR signal transduction pathway and reduce the expression of VEGF of relevant proteins in rats with DN.