Protective effects of Chailing Guiqi Decoction combined with lumbrukinase on renal function in rats with adriamycin nephropathy

Abstract

To study the protective efffects of Chailing Guiqi Decoction (CLGQD) combined with lumbrukinase on renal function in rats with adriamycin nephropathy. Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, untreated group, simvastatin-treated group and CLGQD -treated group. Adriamycin nephropathy was induced by intravenous injection with 5 mg/kg adriamycin. After seven-day treatment, quantitative measurement of 24-h urine protein was determined with trichloroacetic acid, and serum total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed using automatic biochemistry analyzer. The pathomorphological changes of renal tissues were observed with light and electron microscopes. In the untreated group, the 24-h urine protein excretion, serum TC, TG, LDL, Cr and BUN were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the serum TP, Alb, HDL were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (P<0.01). In the CLGQD-treated group, the 24-h urine protein excretion, serum TC, TG, LDL, Cr and BUN were significantly lower as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the serum TP, Alb and HDL were significantly higher as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The pathomorphological findings of the renal tissues under the light microscope in the untreated group showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in a few of glomerulus, degenerated and swelled proximal tubular epithelial cells, proteins in cast formation in some renal tubules and scattered fibrosis in interstitial tissues of the kidney, while the electron microscope images showed the fusion of foot processes in glomerular epithelial cells. The pathomorphological changes in the CLGQD-treated group were slighter than those in the untreated group. CLGQD combined with lumbrukinase can reduce proteinuria, regulate lipid metabolism, protect renal function, and delay progressive renal damage in rats.