[Effect of Qufengtongluo recipe on expression of nephrin mRNA in adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats].

Objective: To investigate the expression of nephrin mRNA in adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN) in rats, and to explore the effect of Qufengtongluo recipe on proteinuria in AN rats and on the expression of nephrin mRNA.

Methods: Adriamycin nephropathy was induced by a single tail intravenous injection of adriamycin. We randomly divided 140 rats into a normal control group (n=32) and a nephropathy model group (n=108). Three weeks later, 90 AN rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a model group, a qufeng group, a qufeng and prednisone group, a prednisone group, and a benazepri group (18 rats in each group). They were treated respectively, and renal tissue samples were collected at week 0, 3, 5, and 7, respectively. The distribution and expression of nephrin mRNA were examined by indirect immunofluorescence and semi-quantity RT-PCR.

Results: In the AN rats, the diffuse fusion and effacement of foot processes were observed at week 3. The fluorescence intensity of nephrin and the expression of nephrin mRNA significantly increased in the qufeng group and the prednisone group compared with the model group at the week 7 (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Abnormal expression of nephrin is the important molecular mechanism that leads to the occurrence and development of proteinuria in AN rats. Qufengtongluo recipe has effect on nephrotic syndrome through altering the expression and distribution of nephrin in glomerulus.