Retinoic acid inhibits renal interstitial myofibroblast proliferation in a rat unilateral ureteral obstruction model / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the effect of retinoic acid on proliferation of renal interstitial myofibroblasts in a rat model of the left unilateral ureteal obstruction (UUO). METHODS: UUO model was established by unilateral ligation of ureter in 36 SD rats. Rats were divided into 2 groups Retinoic acid-treated group and control group, each with 18 rats. UUO rats were treated with either daily subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg body weight of all trans-retinoic acid or vehicle alone two days before the operation until being sacrificed. Groups of 6 rats were killed on day 3, 7 and 12 after ligation of the left ureter. The percentage of renal tubular lesion, interstitial fibrosis score, the number of interstitial myofibroblasts, the number of proliferating myofibroblasts and the expression of TGF?-1 mRNA were determined. RESULTS: There were significant accumulation and local proliferation of myofibroblasts in the interstitium of the UUO rats. On day 7 of the UUO model, the percentage of tubular lesions and interstitial fibrosis score were significantly lower in the retinoic acid-treated group than those in control group [(15.9?2.0)% vs (27.3?2.2)% and (0.47?0.12) vs (1.65?0.18), P