Effect of Modified Zexie Decoction on Prevention of Kidney Injuries of Rats with Hypertension induced by High-Salt Diet

Objective To discuss the effect of Modified Zexie Decoction (Decoction of Rhizoma Alismatis plus other Chinese herbal medicines) on the prevention of kidney injuries of rats with hypertension induced by high-salt diet. Methods Wistar rats were fed with high salt diet for 22 weeks to establish hypertension models. The successfully-made model rats were divided into model group, valsartan group, and Modified Zexie Decoction high-dose group and mid-dose group with 10 rats in each group. From the 23rd week, the model group was given normal saline, the valsartan group given valsartan 14.4mg/(kg·d), Modified Zexie Decoction high-dose group and mid-dose group given suspension of the decoction 16.2g/(kg·d) and 10.8g/(kg·d) respectively. Additional 10 normal rats were as normal group given normal diet and water. After 8 weeks, the pathologic diagnosis of kidney was carried out and the changes of urine albumin (ALB), urine β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), the activity of renin (RN) of renal issues, and angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) were observed. Results Compared with the model group, the 24h-ALB of Modified Zexie Decoction high-dose group was significantly decreased (P0.01), and the urine β2-MG of Modified Zexie Decoction mid-dose group was significantly decreased (P0.05). The result of immunohistochemistry test showed that the AngⅡ was strongly positive in glomeruli of the model group and medication groups, but it was weakly positive in glomeruli of the normal group. Compared with normal group, the activity of RN of other groups was significantly increased (P0.01), and the AngⅡ level of Modified Zexie Decoction mid-dose group was significantly increased (P0.01). Conclusion The Modified Zexie Decoction is effective in improving the construction and function of model rats, and this may be concerned with the increasing of RN activity and AngⅡ level of renal tissues, thus it prevents the kidney injuries.