Table 4.

The Semiquantitative Data of PAS Staining Sections in Kidney From Different Groups.^a

Time for LDR	—	N/L				DM	DM/L
		LD	LW	HD	HW		LD	LW	HD	HW
4 weeks	0	0	1	0	0	4	2	3	2	2
8 weeks	1	0	1	1	1	4	2	3	3	2

Abbreviations: DM, diabetes mellitus; LDR, low-dose radiation; PAS, Periodic acid–Schiff.

^aThe semiquantitative data of PAS staining sections in kidney from different groups. Mesangial matrix expansion, one of the important pathological features of diabetic nephropathy, was defined by the presence of increased amounts of PAS positive material in the mesangial region. A minimum of 20 randomly selected intact glomeruli in the 2 slides from each rat was evaluated independently by 2 investigators without prior knowledge of the origin of the slides. The degree of mesangial matrix expansion was evaluated according to the percentage of involved glomerular area and the scores were as follows: 0, PAS positive materials were not found in the mesangial region; 1, <25%; 2, 25% to 50%; 3, 51% to 75%; 4, >75%. The scores obtained by the 2 investigators were averaged. “-” indicates normal mice without LDR (Sham group). “N/L” indicates normal mice with LDR. “DM/L” indicates diabetic mice with LDR. LD: 12.5 mGy every other day; LW: 12.5 mGy every week; HD: 25 mGy every other day; 25 mGy every week. “wk” indicates the time when the samples were collected and examined.