Resveratrol improves lipid metabolism in diabetic nephropathy rats

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of chronic kidney disease characterized by insulin resistance and lipid deposition in tissues.  To this end, we examined the effect of Resveratrol (RES) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic nephropathy. RES, in a dose dependent manner, decreased the insulin resistance, and improved kidney function and lipid metabolism in STZ treated rats. RES treatment increased p-AMPK alpha/AMPK alpha and p-ULK1 S777/ULK1 and the autophagy related proteins (Beclin1, LC3 II/I) and its effects on TC and improvement in insulin resistence were quenched by the inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA. Together, these results suggest that the effect of RES in treatment of DN may involve AMPK alpha/mTOR-mediated autophagy.