Low molecular weight heparin improves proteinuria in rats with L-NAME induced preeclampsia by decreasing the expression of nephrin, but not podocin

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between proteinuria in L-NAME induced preeclampsia and the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the effect of low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) on proteinuria in rats. METHODS: We detected nephrin and podocin expression of kidneys of pregnant rats after L-NAME and after LMWH intervening pregnant rats. RESULTS: Glomerular nephrin expression in L-NAME induced preeclampsia significantly decreased, but not podocin. Nephrin was relatively increased after LMWH intervention and this was accompanied by a decrease in proteinuria. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that down-regulation of nephrin is involved in L-NAME induced proteinuria, and that LMWH reduces proteinuria by up-regulation of neprhin.