[Effects of alpha-keto acid on the expression of neuropeptide Y in malnutrition rats with chronic renal failure].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of alpha-keto acid on the expression of neuropeptide Y in malnutrition rats with chronic renal failure.


METHODS
SD rats received 5/6 nephrectomy and were fed with 4% casein to establish models of malnutrition with chronic renal failure. Serum albumin, urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, type-1 insulin like growth factor and body weight of the rats were measured. The rat models were randomized into chronic renal failure group, alpha-keto acid group and normal control group, and after a 4-week treatment as indicated, neuropeptide Y mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were measured by RT-PCR in rats with surgically induced renal failure (two-stage subtotal nephrectomy). The blood neuropeptide Y of the rats were analyzed by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Malnutrition occurred in chronic renal failure rats at the end of 10 weeks. Compared with those in the chronic renal failure group, the plasma neuropeptide Y concentrations in alpha-keto acid group were significantly lowered with substantially elevated neuropeptide Y mRNA expression in the hypothalamus.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha-keto acid capsule can improve malnutrition in rats with renal insufficiency possibly by up-regulating neuropeptide Y mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and reducing the level of blood neuropeptide Y.
Zhou
Wei-Dong
WD
Department of Nephrology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Deng
Cong
C
Long
Hai-Bo
HB
Xiao
Wei
W
Hu
Hai-Yan
HY
D000818:Animals; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007651:Keto Acids; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger