Effect of Yisheng herbal injection on chronic allograft nephropathy in rat

Objective To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effectiveness of Yisheng herbal injection against chronic allograft nephropathy in rats.Methods Renal transplantation was performed from SD to Wistar closed colony strain rats. Before the transplantation, the kidney was preserved in 0- 40 ℃ heparin sodium chloride solution for one h. The rats were divided into 4 groups: Group A only received CsA 10 mg/kg every day; Groups B, C and D received low dose of Yisheng+CsA, high dose of Yisheng+CsA and CsA+MMF, respectively. Blood creatinine, pathological changes of the renal grafts and the expression of transforming growth factor β1 in transplanted renal tissues were observed 4, 8 and 12 weeks after operation.Results After the transplantation, the serum creatinine level in group A was significantly higher than in groups B, C and D ( P 0.05 ). The blood creatinine level in group C at 12th week was higher than in group D ( P 0.05 ). Except down-regulation of the expression of TGF β1 in group A at 12th week after transplantation, the expression of TGF-β1 showed an increased tendency in other three groups. The expression of TGF β1 in group A at 4th and 8th week was strongest, while that in group C and D was weak. There were obviously pathologically changes in group A on the postoperative 8th week. Thickening of endovascular intima in groups C and D was later and milder than in group A.Conclusion Yisheng injection could alleviate the vascular sclerosis of kidney graft and down-regulate indirectly the TGF-β1 expression. Protective effect of Yisheng injection against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat kidney transplantation can postpone and lessen chronic renal allograft dysfunction.