Effect of huan-shuai recipe on expression of extracellular matrix in 5/6 nephrectomized rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of Huan-shuai Recipe on the expression level of fibronectin (FN) and transforming growth factor-β₂ (TGF-β₂) in the remnant kidney of rats.Methods : Male Wistar rats, after 4 weeks of 5/6 nephrectomy, were divided into two groups at random, and treated with water and Huanshuai Recipe (HSR) respectively. Serum creatinine (SCr) and urinary protein of 24-hours were observed at beginning, 6th week and 12th week of the experiment, and FN and TGF-β2 were assayed by immunohistochemical technique and computer assisted image analysis as well.Results : Serum SCr and urinary protein of 24-hours were increased significantly in the animals after 5/6 nephrectomy. The increased parameters decreased in the HSR group after treatment, as compared with those in the control group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05); Immunohistochemical measurement and computer assisted image analysis showed a marked suppression of FN and TGF-β₂ in animals of the HSR group with significant difference from those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion : HSR not only plays the role of renal function protection, but could also alleviate the glomerular pathological injury. The effect on TGF-β2 and FN may be the mechanism of HSR in slowing down the progression of chronic renal failure.