Changes in snail and SRF expression in the kidneys of diabetic rats during ageing.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a progressive condition which develops for many years. We analyzed expression of Snail and serum response factor (SRF), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulatory transcription factors with a key role in renal fibrosis, in different renal areas of diabetic rats during ageing.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (model of type 1 diabetes mellitus; DM group) or citrate buffer (control).