title: Anti-hypertensive and renoprotective effects of berberine in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the effects of berberine on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as its effects on blood pressure and renal damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Berberine was administrated to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR rats) between 3 and 20 weeks of age. Blood pressure was monitored in 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 16- and 20-week-old SHR rats and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY rats). Besides, we measured levels of angiotensin II, aldosterone and pre-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, IL-23) in serum and kidney, as well as levels of collagen III and collagen IV in kidney and urinary markers of renal injury (osteopontin, kidney-injury-molecule (KIM-1) and albumin) in 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 16- and 20-week-old SHR rats and WKY rats. Glomerulosclerosis was also assessed with hematoxylin and eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SHR rats developed hypertension at the age of 6 weeks and had increased levels of angiotensin II, aldosterone, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, collagen III, collagen IV, osteopontin, KIM-1 and albumin, as well as more severe glomerulosclerosis, compared to the aged-matched WKY rats. Berberine delayed the onset and attenuated the severity of hypertension, as well as partially inhibited the increases of the above substances in SHR rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine could delay the onset and attenuate the severity of hypertension, as well as ameliorate hypertension-induced renal damage in SHR rats. Furthermore, berberine could inhibit the activities of RAS and pre-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23, which are involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College , Weifang , China .
authors: Zhentao
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: Hongri
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Huamin
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Yanfeng
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine
keywords: Aldosterone; IL-17; IL-23; IL-6; SHR; angiotensin II; berberine; blood pressure; renal damage