[Effects of mesenteric lymph duct ligation on apoptosis of renal tubule epithelial cells in rats after two-hits].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of mesenteric lymph duct ligation in preventing apoptosis of renal tubule epithelial cells in rats by two-hits including hemorrhage and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

METHODS

Forty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the ligation group, the non-ligation group and sham operation group. The two-hits model was established by withdrawing the blood via the right side carotid artery of rats and intragastric administration 4 mg/kg LPS 6 hours after hemorrhage, and mesenteric lymph flow was blocked by ligating mesenteric lymph duct in ligation group. Twenty-four hours after operation, kidney was harvested for pathological examination, and the apoptosis cells rate of renal tubule epithelial cells were determined by method of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), the expression of apoptosis-correlating gene bcl-2 and bax protein were determined by streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

After two-hits, the apoptosis rate and expression of bax protein of renal tubule epithelial cells in non-ligation group were significantly increased, and expression of bcl-2 protein was significantly lower as compared with those of sham operation group (all P<0.01). But the apoptosis rate and expression of bax protein of renal tubule epithelial cells in ligation group were significantly lower, and expression of bcl-2 protein was significantly increased as compared with non-ligation group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that the ligation of mesenteric lymph duct could ameliorate the apoptosis of renal tubule epithelial cells in rats as produced by hemorrhage and LPS, and its mechanism might relate to the reduction of the down regulation of gene expression of bax protein and enhancement of the expression of bcl-2 protein after ligation of mesenteric lymph duct.