[Effects of Valeriana officinalis var. latifolia on expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 in hypercholesterolemic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Valeriana officinalis var latifolia(VOL) on expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in hypercholesterolemic rats and study its possible mechanisms.


METHODS
Dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia was induced in male Wistar rats by given 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid diet for 16 weeks. Changes of serum lipid, urinary albumin, renal function and Mesangial matrix index were assessed. Moreover, immunohistochemical stain for TGF-beta 1 and type IV collagen were performed.


RESULTS
VOL could reduce the serum levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, urinary albumin and serum creatinine. Light microscopy and immunohistochemical stain revealed that in the same time of lowing serum lipid, Mesangial matrix index was significantly reduced, accompanied by decreased expression of TGF-beta 1 and type IV collagen.


CONCLUSIONS
VOL has the protective effect on lipid-induced nephropathy, and the inhibition of TGF-beta 1 expression might be the mechanism of VOL on renal protection.
Si
Xiao-yun
XY
Department of Nephrology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China.
Jia
Ru-han
RH
Huang
Cong-xin
CX
Ding
Guo-hua
GH
Liu
Hong-yan
HY
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1