title: Xuezhikang ameliorates contrast media-induced nephropathy in rats via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the preventive effect of xuezhikang (XZK) to replace atorvastatin on the contrast media-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (sham), injected with normal saline; group 2 (XZK), treated with XZK; group 3 contrast media (CM), injected with CM; group 4 (CM + ATO), injected with CM + pretreatment with atorvastatin; group 5 (CM + XZK), injected with CM + pretreatment with XZK. Twenty-four hours after injection with normal saline or CM, the blood sample and the kidneys were collected for the measurement of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide production, inflammatory parameters, as well as renal histopathology and apoptosis detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicated that XZK restored the renal function by reducing serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr), depressing renal malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing renal NO production, decreasing TNF-ɑ and IL-6 expression, attenuating renal pathological changes and inhibiting the apoptosis of renal tubular cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XZK's therapeutic effect is similar, or even better than atorvastatin at the same effectual dose in some parts.
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Shichun
authors: S
authors: Chu
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Liuhua
authors: L
authors: Hu
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Xiaolei
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Shiqun
authors: S
authors: Sun
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Tuo
authors: T
authors: Zhang
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Sun
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Linghong
authors: L
authors: Shen
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Shuxuan
authors: S
authors: Jin
authors: a Department of Cardiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , PR China.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: He
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C496822:xuezhikang; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Apoptosis; contrast-induced acute kidney injury; inflammatory responses; oxidative stress; xuezhikang