Icariin attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis by reducing aldosterone in SHR / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the effect of icariin ( ICA) on renal interstitial fibrosis in SHR and explore its mechanism. Methods Fourteen male SHR of 13-week-old were randomly divided into model group( n=7 ) and ICA group ( n=7 ) , and WKY as control group (n=7). One week after adaptive breeding,the rats in the ICA group were given ICA 40 mg·kg-1,ig,bid to 26-week-old. The other rats in the model group and control group were given the same amount of normal sa-line. Then, the morphological changes of the kidney were observed by HE and Masson staining,respective-ly. The contents of plasma aldosterone andⅢcollagen were measured by double antibody sandwich method. The mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 , Smad2 , CTGF and FN were examined by real time RT-PCR. Results Compared with the normal control group, the kidney structures of model group were disordered,the mesang-ial matrix and the tubular interstitial fibrosis were in-creased. The contents of plasma aldosterone and Ⅲcollagen were increased in model group ( P <0. 01 ) . And the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 , Smad2 , CTGF and FN in kidney tissues were up-regulated in model group( P <0. 01 or P <0. 05 ) . Compared with the model group,the kidney structures were improved and the contents of plasma aldosterone and Ⅲ collagen were reduced, as well as the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1,Smad2,CTGF and FN in kidney tissues were down-regulated(P<0. 01 or P<0. 05)in ICA group. Conclusion ICA may have anti-renal interstitial fi-brosis effect on SHR,and the mechanism might be re-lated to the reduced plasma aldosterone levels and the down-regulated expression of TGF-β1 and Smad2 .