Expression of connective tissue growth factor in the renal tissue of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To detect the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-?_1 (TGF-?_1) and ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in rat unilateral ureteral obstructive (UUO) nephropathy animal model, and to observe the kinetic changes at different stages of firosis. METHODS: Male SD rats were subjected to either left ureteral ligation or sham operation, then killed at 3, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days after UUO or sham operation (n=6 at each time point). HE, Masson or PAS staining were applied to the renal tissue sections. The extent of tubulointerstitial injury was determined by Banff classification. RESULTS: The extent of tubulinterstitial fibrosis became serious with the time of obstruction. Tubules were mostly atropic and replaced by proliferative fibrous tissue at day 28. The expression of CTGF and ?-SMA were consistent with the damage of tubulointerstitial. The positive correlation among CTGF or ?-SMA and the tubulointerstitial injury scores were significant. The expression of TGF-?_1 came to peak at day 7 to 14, and gradually decreased at day 21 and 28. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the expression of CTGF may be upregulated by TGF-? in UUO rats, and CTGF may be involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis through the development of myofibroblasts.