Protective effects of yishen ruanjian power on renal interstitial fribrosis in chronic aristolochic acid induced nephropathy rat model / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effects of Yishen Ruanjian Power (YRP) on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with chronic aristolochic acid induced nephropathy (CAAN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen male SD rats were divided into 3 groups, 6 in each group. Water solution of Caulis Aristolochia Manshuriensis (CAM) Liquid Extract were given to the mice in the model group by gastrogavage to make CAAN animal model. For those in the TCM group, decocted water solution of YRP was given by gastrogavage after the mice being modeled with the above-mentioned method. Tap water was given by gastrogavage to the mice in the control group. Body weight, 24-hr urinary protein excretion and beta2 microglobulin (beta2-MG), and serum creatinine (r) were determined at the end of the 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th week. At the end of the 16th week, the rats were sacrificed and the pathological figure of their kidneys were observed by Masson staining. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and type I collagen (Col I ) in kidney tissue were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At end of the 1st week, urinary protein excretion, urinary beta2-MG and SCr in the model group were significantly increased to the levels higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Relative area of interstitial fibrosis was significantly enlarged in the model group at the end of the 16th week (P<0.01), and at the same time, the mRNA and protein expression of TCF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1, TIMP-1 and Col I in kidney tissue were significant up-regulated (P<0.01). After intervention with YRP, the above-mentioned up-regulated parameters, except 24-hr urinary protein excretion, were all significantly inhibited (P <0.01 or 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YRP could inhibit the accumulation of extracellular matrix in renal interstitial tissue, so as to alleviate the renal interstitial fibrosis and improve the renal function.</p>