ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We studied the effect of stachydrine on the expression of caspase-12 and 9 in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal model of renal interstitial fibrosis was established using unilateral ureteral obstruction with enalapril as the positive control. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including sham treated, model, enalapril, and high, medium and low stachydrine. On day 14 postoperatively the rats were sacrificed. Serum was collected to determine serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Tubular injury index was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Renal interstitial collagen deposition was analyzed semiquantitatively by Masson staining. Expression of the apoptotic factors caspase-12 and 9 in renal tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The renal tubular interstitial damage index, degree of renal interstitial fibrosis, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and expression of caspase-12 and 9 in the treatment groups were significantly decreased compared to the model group (p <0.05 and <0.01, respectively). Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, renal tubular injury, collagen deposition, and expression of caspase-12 and 9 in the high stachydrine group were significantly decreased compared with the enalapril group (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Stachydrine interfered with the endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis pathway by decreasing caspase-12 expression and inhibiting caspase-9 activation. Ultimately renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis was suppressed and renal interstitial fibrosis development was postponed.