Effects of Zhidahuang-Chuanxiong Drug Pair on Tubular Epithelial Cell Apoptosis in Contrast-induced Nephropathy Rats

Objective:Explore effects and mechanism of Zhi Dahuang-Chuan Xiong Drug Pair on tubular epithelial cell apoptosis in contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN) rats.Methods:Thirty-two male SD rats were divided into four groups(n=8),normal control group(group A),CIN model group(group B),Drug Pair with High Dose treatment group(group C),and Drug Pair with Low Dose treatment group(group D).Rats of group C and D were given daily intragastric administration with different doses of Drug Pair decoction separately at 7 days before building model.All rats were killed 24 h after injection of contrast media.The kidney injury was assessed by serum creatinine(Scr),urea nitrogen(BUN),and HE staining.Apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells was detected by TUNEL staining.Simultaneously,caspase3 expression in protein level was detected by western blotting method.Results:Twenty-four hours after injection of contrast media,compared with group A,Scr,BUN,and Caspase3 protein expression were significantly increased in group B rats(P0.01).Pathological changes of renal interstitium were the most serious in group B,which mainly showing vacuolar degeneration and apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells(P0.01).Compared with group B,Scr,BUN,and Caspase3 protein expression were significantly decreased in group C and D(P0.01 or 0.05),which accompanied with lighter pathological changes in renal interstitium and lower apoptosis index(AI)(P0.01).Conclusion:Caspase3 depended apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CIN rats.Zhi Dahuang-Chuan Xiong Drug Pair could inhibit such tubular epithelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting Caspase3 expression,and thus beneficially protect rats against contrast induced nephropathy.