ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the effect of hirudin on hyperuricemia rats and its mechanism. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, allopurinol (30 mg/kg) group, hirudin low-, middle- and high-dose (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/kg) group. Rats were ig potassium oxonate (0.75 g/kg) to induce hyperglycemia model, once a day for five weeks. And all administration groups were respectively ig corresponding doses of drugs. The level of uric acid in serum and urine of rats were measured by biochemical method; The level of organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) in kidney was measured by immunohistochemistry; The protein expressions of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), OAT1 and urate transporter 1 (URAT1) in kidney were measured by western blotting; The expression levels of GLUT9, OAT1 and URAT1 mRNA in kidney were detected by qRT-PCR. Results: Compared with control group, the level of uric acid in serum and urine of rats in model group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), the expressions of GLUT9, URAT1 mRNA and protein were significantly increased (P < 0.01), the expressions of OAT1 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with model group, the level of uric acid in serum and urine of rats in hirudin group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01), the expressions of GLUT9, URAT1 mRNA and protein were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), the expressions of OAT1 mRNA and protein were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Conclusion Hirudin can reduce the uric acid by regulating the expressions of renal urate transporters OAT1, URAT1 and GLUT9 in hyperuricemia rats.