Effects of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid on restructuring glomerular microvasculature and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in subtotal nephrectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects and significance of Huanshuai Recipe Oral Liquid (, HSR), a formula with supplementing qi, nourishing blood and activating blood on restructuring glomerular microvasculature and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in subtotal nephrectomized (SNX) rats.


METHODS
A total of 76 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 16 in the sham-operated group and fed with tap water 10 mL/kg per day; 20 in the model group were operated with 5/6 SNX and fed with tap water 10 mL/ kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the HSR group were treated with HSR 10 mL/kg per day; 20 SNX rats in the losartan group were treated with losartan 40 mg/kg per day. Serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary protein excretion (Upro) were examined at the 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of the treatment, and the remnant kidneys were harvested. Changes in histological microstructure were evaluated using light microscopy, and the expression of VEGF was detected by using ELISA.


RESULTS
Upro, microvasculature injury and glomerulosclerosis were found to be alleviated in HSR and Losartan groups, respectively. The change of VEGF expression showed positive correlation with glomerular capillary area and peritubular capillary number (r=0.448, r=0.422, P<0.01), but negative correlation with that of SCr and Upro (r=-0.592, r=-0.481, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HSR could regulate the VEGF expression, reduce the loss of microvasculature, which demonstrated similar renal protective effects to losartan in SNX rats. Examination of Chinese herbal medicine influence on VEGF signaling and restructuring renal microvasculature may elucidate the molecular mechanism of renal protection to a certain degree.
Li
Shen
S
Guang' anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. lishen58173@163.com
Rao
Xiang-rong
XR
Song
Jin-ye
JY
Meng
Li-qiang
LQ
Qu
Lei
L
Li
Xiao-mei
XM
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055806:Microvessels / Q000187:drug effects*; D009392:Nephrectomy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005353:Fibronectins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C553673:huanshuai; D003404:Creatinine