Abstract: To observe the effects of quercetin liposome (LQ) on formation of advanced glycation end prod⁃ ucts （AGEs）and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in kidney of diabetic rats. Methods LQ was made by rotary evaporation, and the model of type 2 diabetic rats were established by being fed on high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneally injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Then type 2 diabetic rats were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic model group (group DM), low level of LQ group (group LQ-L ), medium level of LQ group (group LQ-M), high level of LQ group (group LQ-H), positive control group (group aminoguanidine, AG) and control group (group N). After 8 weeks of interventions, blood glucose, body weight, kidney hypertrophy index (KI), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured in each group. ELISA was used to detect serum AGEs, and 24 h urine albumin. The pathologi⁃ cal change of glomerular basement membranes was observed by PAS staining and the expressions of AGEs in kidney was as⁃ sessed by immunohistochemical method. The transcription level of RAGE mRNA in kidney was determined by RT-PCR. Re⁃ sults Compared with the group N, the level of blood glucose, KI, BUN, Scr, serum AGEs and 24 h urine albumin were in⁃ creased significantly in group DM, while the level of body weight decreased. Also the volume of kidney glomerulus increased and glomerular basement membranes thickened, the transcription levels of AGEs and RAGE mRNA in kidney tissue in⁃ creased in DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with group DM, the level of blood glucose, KI, BUN, Scr, serum AGEs and 24 h urinary albumin decreased, while the level of body weight increased in all three LQ groups. Meantime, the change of patho⁃ logical morphology of glomerular basement membranes reduced and the expressions of AGEs and RAGE mRNA in kidney tissue decreased in all three LQ groups. All changes in the medium LQ dose group were more obvious than those of other twoLQ groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion Similar to AG, LQ has effect on inhibiting the action of proteinum unenzymatic glycosyl⁃ ation and on decreasing the production of AGEs in serum as well as the expression of RAGE mRNA in kidney. Therefore, LQ play important protective role in kidneys of diabetic rats.

Key words: diabetic nephropathies, quercetin, liposomes, glycosylation end products, advanced, rats,Sprague-Dawley, RAGE, aminoguanidine