OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect of Qufengtongluo (QFTL) recipe against proteinuria and glomerular filtration membrane damage in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN).

METHODSFifty-six SD rats were randomized into normal control (A) and AN model groups. In the AN model group, the rat AN models established by a single intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein were subdivided into model (B), QFTL recipe (C), prednisone (D), and benazepril (E) groups 3 weeks after adriamycin injection. The 24-h urinary protein level was measured and the expression of anionic sites on the filtration membrane was evaluated using electron microscope with PEI staining. Nephrin expression on the glomerular filtration membrane was detected with indirect immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSCompared with group A, the model group showed significantly increased level of 24-h urinary protein (P<0.01), suggesting successful establishment of the AN model. Treatment with QFTL recipe obviously lowered the 24-h urinary protein (P<0.01), and increased the expression of anionic sites and nephrin on the glomerular filtration membrane in the AN rats (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQFTL recipe can effectively decrease 24-h urinary protein, improve the symptoms, and up-regulate the expressions of anionic sites and nephrin on the glomerular filtration membrane in rats with AN.