Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) pathway effect of Dunhuang Yifang Qumai decoction on calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis rats and explore its possible mechanism.
METHODS Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups:blank control group, model group, Shenshitong granules group(5 g·kg
-1), high, middle and low dose group of Dunhuang Yifang Qumai decoction(20, 10, 5 g·kg
-1). Except those in the blank control group, calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis model rats were induced by 1% ethylene glycol and 2% ammonium chloride(2% NH
4Cl), and treated with corresponding drugs for 28 d. After the last treatment, the body weight and the kidney index were monitored of each group, the levels of SOD, MDA and T-AOC in serum were detected and the pathomorphological changes of renal tissue were observed by HE stain, the expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1 mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR, the expression levels of Nrf2, ARE protein were observed by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS Compared with blank control group, MDA content, kidney index obviously increased in model group(
P<0.05), and weight body, SOD activity, T-AOC content, Nrf2 gene expression, NQO1 gene expressions, Nrf2 protein expression, ARE protein expression significantly decreased in model group (
P<0.05). Compared with model group, Qumai decoction could significantly reduce the index of kidney, Qumai decoction could significantly increase the weight body; at the same time, high and middle dose group of Qumai decoction could obviously decrease the content of MDA, increase the activity of SOD, and increase the expression levels of Nrf2, NQO1 mRNA and the expression levels of Nrf2, ARE protein (
P<0.05); high dose group of Qumai decoction could obviously increase the level of T-AOC (
P<0.05).
CONCLUSION Harmed oxidative stress in calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis model rats, Dunhuang Yifang Qumai decoction could effectively inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate stone in rats via increasing the relevent cytokines expressions of Nrf2/ARE pathways.