Effects of Aristolochic Acid on Renal Function and Pathological Changes of Renal Tissue in Rats / 中药新药与临床药理

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of aristolochic acid on renal function and tissues morphology in rats.Methods Forty-six male Wistar rats were divided into the normal control group(n=20) and the tested group (n=26) at random.The tested group was treated with the extract of Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis(CAM) (aristolochic acid 20 mg?kg-1?d-1) by gastric gavage,the control group with the same volume of potable water.The body weight of rats was meausured weekly.At the end of 4th,8th,12th weeks,the 24-hour-urine were collected,and blood samples were taken from abdominal artery for detection of indexes of renal function.The pathological changes of renal tissues were also observed.Results The body weight increased slowly and urine volume increased in tested group.The urine albumin level and N-acetyl-?-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion increased significantly,and the ratio of serum creatinin and body weight increased progressively,indicating that renal function has been impaired.The renal pathological changes under light microscope were as followsdegeneration and necrosis of renal tubule in the early stage and serious tubular structure disorders of focal atrophy and interstitial inchoate fibrosis in the late stage.The changes of ultrastructure of renal tissues under the electronic microscope were as followsobvious organelle impairment and nucleus variation,interstitial inchoate fibrosis occurring at the 8th week and fibrosis rate arriving 31.36 %at the 12th week.Conclusion Aristolochic acid in CAM has renal toxicity,which is shown as remarkably renal pathological changes,tubular-interstitial injury,interstitial inchoate fibrosis,and cell nuclear variation.