OBJECTIVETo investigate the involvement of MAPK p38 pathway in treatment of chronic renal failure with Jianpi Qinghua Decoction in rats.

METHODSForty SPF SD rats were divided into sham group (n=10),model group (n=10), Jianpi Qinghua group (n=10) and losartan group (n=10). Rat chronic renal failure was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (Platt method) in model, Jianpi Qinghua and losartan groups, and rats in sham group received sham operation. Jianpi Qinghua decoction (3.9 g 200 g(-1)) or losartan (3.3 g 200 g(-1)) daily were administrated by gavage in Jianpi Qinghua and losartan groups for 60 days, respectively, Rats in sham and model groups were orally administered with saline of the same volume. The serum levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen were measured by biochemical method, the expression of MAPK p38 was detected by Western Blot,and renal pathological changes were observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTSCompared to model group,serum creatinine levels after 60d in Jianpi Qinghua and losartan groups were decreased significantly (42.67 ± 5.98 or 40.90 ± 5.07 compared with 60.90 ± 9.54, both P<0.01), the expression of MAPK p38 was significantly down-regulated (0.555 ± 0.004 or 0.587 ± 0.045 compared with 0.930 ± 0.265,both P<0.01) and serum urea nitrogen was also decreased (8.56 ± 0.75 or 7.97 ± 0.86 compared with 8.62 ± 0.62,both P<0.05). The renal pathology in the model group presented glomerular mesangial proliferation,hyperplasia of glomenrulus mesangial cells and interstitial inflammation. Those pathological changes were attenuated significantly in Jianpi Qinghua and losartan groups.

CONCLUSIONJianpi Qinghua Decoctions can improve the renal function and renal pathological changes in a rat with chronic renal failure, which may be associated with down-regulation of MAPK p38 immune inflammatory pathways.