RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect and mechanism of "Shenxian Fuyuan Capsule" (SXFYC) on chronic renal failure in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. METHODS: The animal model with chronic renal failure was established by using the method of 5/6 nephrectomy. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: SXFYC treatment group, losartan treatment group, control group and pseudo-operation group (normal group). Since the next day after operations, the rats in the SXFYC treatment group and the losartan treatment group had been intragastrically administrated with SXFYC 300 mg/kg x d and losartan 150 mg/kg x d respectively. The rats in the normal group and control group were fed with sodium chloride twice a day. Four, eight and twelve weeks later, histological and biochemical tests were undertaken to examine changes of the remnant kidney such as alpha-SMA, collagen I, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and proteinuria. The connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Both SXFYC and losartan ameliorated the histological change of remnant kidney, decreased the level of CTGF mRNA, serum creatinine and proteinuria (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the SXFYC and losartan treatment groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: "Shenxian Fuyuan Capsule" can improve the renal function of the 5/6 nephrectomized rats. It performs as well as losartan. "Shenxian Fuyuan Capsule" might have played an important role in preventing CTGF-mediated renal fibrosis in the 5/6 nephrectomized rats.