ABSTRACT: To explore the potential therapeutic effects of angiotensin(1-7) (Ang(1-7)), an endogenous ligand of the Mas receptor, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a diabetic model group. After 12 weeks, the diabetic rats were divided into subgroups for 4-week treatments consisting of no-treatment group, small-, moderate-, and large-dose Ang(1-7) groups, a valsartan group, a large-dose Ang(1-7) plus valsartan group, and an A779 (antagonist of the Mas receptor) group, each with 15 rats. Ang(1-7) improved renal function, attenuated glomeruli sclerosis, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation, decreased the expression of collagen IV, TGF-β1, VEGF, NOX4, p47phox, PKCα, and PKCβ1, and the phosphorylation of Smad3. I
