Effects of Weicao Capsules on Expression Levels of Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Renal Tissues of Uric Acid Nephropathy Rats

Objective To investigate the effects of Weicao Capsules,a traditional Chinese medicine mainly containing Radix Clematidis,Semen Cassiae,etc.,on the expression levels of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF),and hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) in renal tissues of uric acid nephropathy rats,and to explore its therapeutic effects and its mechanism of action.Methods Fifty SD male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control group,model group,allopurinol treated group,low dosage Weicao Capsules treated group and high dosage Weicao Capsules treated group.The rat model of uric acid nephropathy was induced by feeding yeast 10 g/kg and adenine 100 mg/kg during 19 days,successively.Rats in normal control group were given normal saline;and rats in allopurinol treated group,and low-and high-dosage Weicao Capsules treated groups were treated with intragastric injection of corresponding drugs for four weeks.Before treatment and after four weeks of treatment,serum levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Cr),uric acid(UA) in each group were determined,respectively;and immunohistochemistry method was used for detecting the expression levels of CTGF and HGF in renal tissues of uric acid nephropathy rats.Pathological changes of renal tissues of rats in all groups were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining.Results In comparison with those of normal control group,serum levels of BUN,Cr,and UA in model group were significantly increased(P0.01);the expression level of CTGF was significantly increased(P0.01),and the expression level of HGF was significantly decreased(P0.01)in renal tissues of rats in model group.In comparison with those of the model group,the serum levels of BUN,Cr,and UA as well as the expression level of CTGF were significantly decreased(P0.01),and the expression level of HGF was significantly increased in low-and high-dosage Weicao Capsules treated groups and allopurinol treated group(P0.01).There was no significant difference in above-mentioned indexes among groups treated with low-and high-dosage Weicao Capsules,and allopurinol(P0.05).Pathohistology showed that low-and high-dosage Weicao Capsules and allopurinol could reduce the deposit of urate crystals and inflammation cell infiltrate,and inhibit the fibrosis of renal nephropathy.Conclusion Weicao Capsules could improve the renal function of uric acid nephropathy rats,the mechanism might be related with its decreasing serum levels of BUN,Cr and UA,reducing the deposit of urate crystals,decreasing the expression level of CTGF,and increasing the expression level of HGF in renal tissues of uric acid nephropathy rats,and inhibiting the fibrosis of renal interstitium.