Effect of Yuebi Decoction on Glomerular Ultrastructure in Adriamycin-induced Nephropathy Rats

Objective:To investigate the variation of glomerular ultrastructure in adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN) rats,and to further explore the effects of Yuebi Decoction on proteinuria in AN rats.Methods:Adriamycin nephropathy was induced by a single tail intravenous injection of adriamycin.Seventy rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(A,n=16)and the nephropathy model group(AN,n=54).Three weeks later,the nephropathy models were established,and 16/14 rats were sacrificed while the rest of 40 AN rats randomly divided into four groups:the nephropathy model group (B,n=10),the yuebi group(C,n=10),the prednisone group(D,n=10) and the benazepri group(E,n=10) and each group was treated respectively.In each group renal tissue samples were collected at the 3rd week and the 7th week,respectively.The glomerular ultrastructure was examined by electron microscopy.Results:(1) After the adriamycin injection,a significant increase of the 24-hour urinary protein was observed at the 3rd week (P0.01).In AN rats,serum albumin level decreased (P0.01) while serum TC and TG levels increased (P0.01).(2)It was observed the diffuse fusion and effacement of foot processes and decrease of anionic sites in GBM in AN rats at the 3rd week.(3)At 7th week,the foot process counts of GBM dramatically increased in the C and D groups (P0.01),compared with that in the B group.Conclusion:The abnormal variation of glomerular ultrastructure was the important mechanism that lead to the occurrence and development of proteinuria in AN rats.It was possible that yuebi decoction had effects on nephrotic syndrome through improving glomerular ultrastructure in glomerulus.