RESUMO
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Youguiwan on the rats with adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome （NS） and its mechanism. MethodSD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， three Youguiwan low， medium， and high-dose groups， and a prednisone group. Rats in the model group were intravenously injected with adriamycin in the tail vein to induce the NS model. Rats in the Youguiwan low， medium， and high-dose groups were given 2.8， 5.6， 11.2 g·kg-1·d-1 of crude drugs， respectively， and rats in the prednisone group were given 6.3 mg·kg-1·d-1 of prednisone acetate. Each administration group was given continuous medicine for 6 weeks， and the normal group and model group were given an equal volume of normal saline. Bicinchoninic acid （BCA） assay was used to detect 24 h urine protein （24 h UP）. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect serum urea nitrogen （BUN）， creatinine （SCr）， albumin （ALB）， total cholesterol （TC）， and triglyceride （TG） levels. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe renal tissue morphology， and kit was used to detect serum advanced oxidized protein products （AOPPs） and reactive oxygen species （ROS）. Western blot was used to detect the receptor of advanced glycation endproducts （RAGE） of renal tissue， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） phosphorylation levels， Wnt， and β-catenin protein expression. ResultAs compared with the normal group， 24 h UP， serum BUN， SCr， TC， TG， AOPPs， and ROS levels in the model group increased significantly （P<0.01）， whereas ALB decreased （P<0.01）. There were typical pathological injuries in the renal tissue， and the expressions of RAGE， phosphorylation（p）-NF-κB， Wnt1， and β-catenin protein were significantly increased （P<0.01）. As compared with the model group， the 24 h UP， serum BUN， SCr， TC， TG， AOPPs， and ROS levels of rats in the Youguiwan low， medium， and high-dose groups significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and ALB significantly increased （P<0.01）. The renal tissue damage was reduced， and the expressions of RAGE， p-NF-κB， Wnt1， and β-catenin protein were significantly decreased （P<0.01） in a dose-dependent manner. ConclusionYouguiwan improves the kidney injury of rats with adriamycin-induced NS. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of AOPPs level， inhibition of RAGE/ROS/NF-κB axis， and activation of Wnt/β-catenin signal.