Triptolide reduced renal EMT and inactivated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in vivo. (A) Representative images of E-cadherin, vimentin and α-SMA by immunohistochemistry from renal tubules. Original magnification is ×400. The scale bar represents 50 μm. (B) Representative E-cadherin, vimentin and α-SMA bands by Western blot in rat kidneys. (C) Densitometric analysis of E-cadherin, vimentin and α-SMA by Western blot (n=5). (D) Representative PTEN, PI3K, p-AKT and t-AKT bands by Western blot in rat kidneys. (E) Densitometric analysis of PTEN, PI3K, p-AKT and t-AKT by Western Blot (n=5). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 vs. the NC group. #P < 0.05 vs. the DKD group. NC: normal control; DKD: diabetic kidney disease; TP: triptolide.