Effects of astragalus polysaccharides on improvement of liver and kidney injury and regulation of intestinal flora structure in cadmium-exposed rats / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharides on the improvement of liver and kidney injury and the regulation of intestinal flora structure in cadmium exposed rats. Methods Rats exposed to cadmium were established by intraperitoneal injection of CdCl2. After continuous intragastric administration of astragalus polysaccharides for five weeks, urine, liver, kidney and feces were collected. The cadmium residues in urine, liver and kidney were detected by Graphite Furnace Atomic absorption spectrometry, the pathological changes of liver and kidney were observed by HE staining, and Illumina PE250 sequencing and bioinformatics software were used to analyze the structure of intestinal flora. Results After intraperitoneal injection of CdCl2, the accumulation of cadmium in urine, liver and kidney increased significantly, some liver and kidney cells showed pathological damage such as swelling, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Chao, ace and shannon indexes decreased significantly, while simpson index increased significantly. The number of OTU decreased. And the abundance of Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, Flavonifractor, Roseburia and Elusmicrobium decreased significantly, but Lactobacillus, that of Lachnospiracea_incertae_sedis, Parasutterella, Clostridium XlVb, Clostridium XI, Integinimonas and Fusobacterium increased significantly. Compared with the normal control group, the differences was statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01). After intragastric administration of astragalus polysaccharides, cadmium accumulation in urine, liver and kidney decreased significantly, liver and kidney cell damage alleviated, and inflammatory cell infiltration reduced. Chao, ace and shannon index increased markedly, and simpson index decreased significantly. OTU number increased. And the bundance of Prevotella, Bacteroides, Parasutterella, Elismicrobium and Barnesiella raised significantly, that of Ruminococcus, Oscillibacter, Flavonifractor, Clostridium XlVa, Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus2, Lachnospiracea_incertae_sedis, Clostridium IV, Clostridium XlVb, Clostridium XI and integinimonas decreased significantly, which was statistically significant compared with the group exposed to cadmium alone(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions Astragalus polysaccharides may improve liver and kidney injury by reducing cadmium accumulation and regulating the structure of intestinal flora in cadmium exposed rats.