[The effects of glycyrrhizin-18alpha on the expression of NF-kappaB in the renal interstitium of rats with obstructive nephropathy].

AIM

To investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin-18alpha on the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB in the renal interstitium of rats with obstructive nephropathy.

METHODS

Obstructive nephropathy model of rats was set up by unilateral ureteral ligation. The rats were sacrificed 7,14, 28 and 56 days after operation. And then specimens were taken from the renal cortex. The morphological changes in renal interstitium were observed under light and electron microscopes. The expression of nuclear factor-kappaB and type III collagen was detected by immunohistochemical staining and analyzed by EIG image analysis system.

RESULTS

Progressive fibrosis was observed in the renal interstitium of rats with obstructive nephropathy. The semi-quantitative analysis indicated that the expression level of NF-kappaB and type III collagen in the renal interstitium of glycyrrhizin-18alpha treatment and prophylaxis groups was markedly higher than that of mock operation group (P<0.01) and remarkably lower than that of normal saline control group(P<0.01) 7 days after operation. No significant difference in the expression of NF-kappaB and type III collagen was detected between glycyrrhizin-18alpha treatment group and prophylaxis group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Glycyrrhizin-18alpha may prevent renal interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy by down-regulating the expression of NF-kappaB in renal interstitium.