The effect of simvastatin and erythropoietin on renal fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction

Prevention of fibrosis is a very important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of obstructive nephropathy (ON). The aim of this study is to show and compare the actions of Simvastatin (Simv) and Erythropoietin (Epo) in renal expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B), fibronectin and development of interstitial fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). A total of 48 Sprague–Dawley rats were allocated to 4 groups of sham, Epo, Simv and control. Unilateral ureteral ligation was performed on all rats except the Sham group. For interstitial fibrosis Masson’s trichrome stain and for the expression of TGF-β, PDGF-B, bFGF, NFκB and fibronectin, immunohistochemical methods were used. In the Epo and Simv groups, expression of TGF-β and fibronectin and staining with Masson’s trichrome were less compared to the control group. In addition, fibronectin expression in the Epo group was less than the Simv group. Unlike the Simv group, NFκB and bFGF expression in the Epo group were less when compared to the control group. Consequently, it was seen that both Epo and Simv prevented fibrosis in ON. Epo was superior in this effect by suppressing the expressions of NFκB and bFGF more effectively than Simv. Based on this finding, Epo might be a better agent than Simv in the prevention of fibrosis in ON.