Background
Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) can promote renal microcirculation. The
Conclusions
MLB improves renal function, fibrosis and inflammation in CRF rats induced by 5/6 (A/I), which is probably related to the increase in RBF, reduction of oxygen consumption and attenuation of renal hypoxia in the remnant kidney with CRF.
Methods
Chronic renal failure (CRF) was induced in male SD rats by the 5/6 (A/I) surgery. 30 rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, 5/6 (A/I) + vehicle group (CRF group) and 5/6 (A/I) + MLB (CRF + MLB) group. 28 days after the surgery, rats were given with saline or 100 mg/kg MLB by i.p. injection for 8 weeks. The 24-h urinary protein (24hUp), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. The protein expression of Fibronectin (FN), Collagen-I (Col-I), Connective Tissue Growth Factor(CTGF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by Western blot. Renal blood flow (RBF) and renal O2 consumption (QO2) indicated as sodium reabsorption (QO2/TNa) were detected before sacrifice. Renal hypoxia was assessed by measuring the protein expression of nNOS, HIF-1α and VEGF.
Results
MLB significantly reduced 24hUp, Scr, BUN, SBP and DBP levels in rats with CRF. The expression of FN, Col-I, CTGF and IL-6 were down-regulated by MLB treatment in rats with CRF. In comparison to sham operated rats, 5/6 (A/I) rats had significantly lower RBF, and MLB significantly increased RBF in rats with CRF. Moreover, QO2/TNa was higher in the CRF group as compared to that in the sham group, and it was significantly attenuated in the CRF + MLB group. MLB reversed the expression of nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase), HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor-1) and VEGF in rats with CRF. Conclusions: MLB improves renal function, fibrosis and inflammation in CRF rats induced by 5/6 (A/I), which is probably related to the increase in RBF, reduction of oxygen consumption and attenuation of renal hypoxia in the remnant kidney with CRF.