Abstract: AIM: To observe the effects of puerarin on blood lipid and expression of aorta laminin B₁ mRNA in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.METHODS: Diabetic nephropathy rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ, and the experimental rats were divided into normal control group, model group, and puerarin group.During and after the treatment for 12 weeks, the general state, blood suger(BS) , triglyceride(TC) , cholesterol,low density lipoprotein(LDL-C) , high density lipoprotein(HDL-C) , glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)and glycosylated low density lipoprotein(G-LDL) were detected.Aorta alteration of tissue morphology was observed by H.E staining, and the expressions of laminin B1 mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization analysis.RESULTS: Diabetes mellitus and aorta lesion occurred in the two model groups.Puerarin could improve the general state, decrease the level of triglyceride(P<0.05) ,serum cholesterol (P<0.05) , low density lipoprotein(P<0.05) , glycosylated hemoglobin(P<0.05) , and glycated low density lipoprotein(P<0.05) , and increase the level of high density lipoprotein(P<0.05).The expression of laminin B₁ mRNA in the aorta were significantly inhibited by Puerarin (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Puerarin have certain protective effects on aorta in rats.

Key words: puerarin, diabetic models, lipid, aorta, laminin B1 mRNA, gene expression