Figure 2.

The effects of ALA on kidney structure and CML formation in control and diabetic rats, 4 and 8 weeks after diabetes induction. (a) Histological analysis of kidney structure and pathologic features associated with diabetes (tubular dilatation marked with arrow and mesangial matrix expansion with triangle) assessed by PAS staining. The results of histological analysis of kidney sections after 8 weeks of diabetes induction are presented as mean values ± SD for tubular lumen, glomerular, and mesangial matrix areas. (b) Immunohistochemical staining of carboxymethyllysine (CML) in the representative kidney section. The results of quantification by ImageJ analysis are presented as mean values ± SD. “^∗” indicates statistically significant difference compared to the control group (^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗p < 0.001), “^#” indicates statistically significant difference compared to the ALA group (^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, and ^###p < 0.001), “^δ” indicates statistically significant difference compared to the STZ group of animals (^δp < 0.05, ^δδp < 0.01, and ^δδδp < 0.001).