title: [Curcumin attenuates contrast-induced nephropathy by upregulating heme oxygenase-1 expression in rat].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of curcumin (CMN) on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in rats and explore the potential mechanisms focusing on heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male SD rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6 each): control group (group A), diatrizoate group (DTZ, group B), DTZ + CMN group (group C), DTZ + CMN + zinc protoporphyrin IX group (group D). All rats were fed with normal chow for 1 week, right kidney was excised under anesthesia and rats were fed with normal chow for another 4 weeks. Afterwards, rats in group A was fed with normal chow, and rats in group B to D were fed with low-salt diet. All rats were injected furosemide 2 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) for 7 days intramuscularly. At the beginning of the 7(th) day, rats in group C were injected intramuscularly with CMN 20 mg/kg, rats in group D were injected with CMN (20 mg/kg) + zinc protoporphyrin IX (7.5 mg/kg) while rats in group A and B were injected with equal volume of physiological saline. At the end of the 7(th) day, indometacin (10 mg/kg) was injected into tail vein of all rats. One hour later, 60% DTZ (8 ml/kg) was injected to rats in the group B, C and D while equal volume saline was injected to rats in group A through common carotid artery. After 48 hours, blood was drawn from the hearts of deeply anesthetized rats and kidney tissue was obtained for histology, HO-1, Bax, Bcl-2 expression and the apoptotic index measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum creatinine of group B, C and D [(83.67 ± 4.50) µmol/L, (63.67 ± 4.76) µmol/L, (104.17 ± 4.58) µmol/L] was significantly higher than that of group A [(41.50 ± 5.58) µmol/L, all P < 0.05], the serum creatinine was significantly higher in group B than in group C and lower than in group D (all P < 0.05). HO-1 expression of group B, C and D was significantly higher than that of group A (all P < 0.05), significantly higher in group C than in group B and D (all P < 0.05). HO-1 activity of group A, B and C was significantly higher than that of group D(all P < 0.05), HO-1 activity was significantly higher in group B than in group A and significantly lower in group B than in group C (all P < 0.05). Bax, Bcl-2 expression and apoptosis index of group B, C and D were significantly higher than that of group A (all P < 0.05), while Bcl-2/Bax of group B, C and D were significantly lower than that of group A (all P < 0.05). Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax were significantly higher while apoptosis index was significantly lower in group C than in group B (all P < 0.05). Bax and apoptosis index were significantly higher and Bcl-2, Bcl-2/Bax were significantly lower in group D than in group B (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMN could protect against contrast-induced nephropathy through reducing renal cell apoptosis via upregulating HO-1 expression and activating HO-1 activity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, China.
authors.forename: Bing-jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Wei-yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C491523:Hmox1 protein, rat; D003474:Curcumin