Effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (麝香保心丸) in Alleviating Early Hypertensive Renal Injury in Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (麝香保心丸, SBP) on early hypertensive renal injury in rats and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods Twelve-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) with high-salt diet (dietary containing 8% NaCl) were randomized into the SBP group [40 mg/(kg·d)], losartan potassium group [20 mg/(kg·d)] and saline group by stratified random sampling method, 12 in each group. Blood pressure and urea albumin creatinine ratio were measured. After 10 weeks, the expression levels of serum creatinine (Scr), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in serum were assessed. Kidney pathology periodate-schiff staining was performed. Semi-quantitative count of macrophage infiltration was determined by immunochemistry of CD68 staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to examine the mRNA and protein expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), monocyte chemokine peptide (MCP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and arginase-1 (Arg-1). Results SBP did not affect the mortality of SHR ( P <0.05). SBP significantly reduced the level of elevated blood pressure of SHRs, but the effect was less significantly than that of losartan potassium. SBP decreased urine protein ( P <0.01) and the expression levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β in serum. The 22-week-old SHRs showed mild proliferation of glomerular endothelial cells, glomerular ischemic lesions, inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tubular interstitium and arteriosclerosis. Both SBP and losartan potassium had alleviated renal pathological change, and significantly reduced the infiltration of macrophage ( P <0.05, P <0.01). SBP and losartan potassium decreased the expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, MCP-1, iNOS, and Arg-1. Conclusion SBP significantly modified the early hypertensive renal injury by reducing inflammation, and the effect was similar to losartan potassium.