Figure 2.

Recombinant human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 protects the glomerular filtration barrier in diabetic rats. After treatment for 12 weeks, the animals in all groups were euthanized and the kidneys were harvested for structural evaluation of the glomerular filtration barrier. (a) Glomerular morphology was carried out by periodic acid–Schiff staining. Glomerulosclerosis scores were semiquantified in the normal group (N), vehicle group (V), recombinant human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 group (G), and insulin group (I). ***P < 0.001 (vs V). (b) Transmission electron microscopy for the structure of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and foot processes of podocytes. Scale bars, 2 μm. The GBM thicknesses were measured with a ruler in Adobe PDF files at >50 sites, and the results are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. (c) Real‐time polymerase chain reaction, (d) western blot and (e) immunofluorescence imaging was used to measure the expression of podocin in the glomeruli. (f) Western blot, (g) real‐time polymerase chain reaction and (h) immunofluorescence imaging was used to measure the expression of nephrin in the glomeruli. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean, n = 8 (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001; one‐way anova test).