title: Protective effect of prostaglandin E1 on renal microvascular injury in rats of acute aristolochic acid nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the renal microvascular injury in acute aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and the protective effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in acute AAN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The rats in PGE1 group received Caulis Aristolochia manshuriensis (CAM) decoction by gavage for 5 days, and PGE1 was given by vena caudalis before gavage. The rats in model group were gavaged with CAM for 5 days, and the same dose of 0.9% physiologic saline was given by vena caudalis. The rats in control group only received an equal daily volume of saline solution by gavage. Animals were killed at days 3, 5, and 7. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and urinary protein were monitored before killing. Microvascular density was determined by JG12 immunostaining. The expression of angiogenic factor was assessed by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Tubulointerstitial hypoxia was assessed by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CAM induced a significant decrease in VEGF expression and microvascular density in the kidney tissue, accompanied by a significant increase in HIF-1α, which reduced renal function and increased 24-h urinary protein excretion rates. PGE1 lessened the capillary loss, relieved hypoxia, and protected renal function. No significant pathological changes were found in control rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The renal microvascular injury in acute AAN is severe. PGE1 can significantly ameliorate the renal microvascular injury, relieve hypoxia, and protect renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, PR China. sundong@xzmc.edu.cn
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Cai-Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D030022:Aristolochia; D034341:Aristolochic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D010936:Plant Extracts; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C000228:aristolochic acid I; D000527:Alprostadil