OBJECTIVETo study the effect of long-term use of low dose Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis (CAM) on the deterioration of chronic renal failure rats.

METHODSThe 5/6 nephrectomized Wistar rats were taken as animal model of chronic renal failure, which were divided into 3 groups. Group A was treated with 1 g/kg CAM decoction, the dose equivalent to that defined in the pharmacopoeia. Group B was treated with 3 g/kg CAM decoction and Group C treated with equal volume of tap water. Medication was given once per day by gastrogavage in all the three groups for 8 weeks. The serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, urinary protein content and morphological changes of kidney were observed.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks treatment, levels of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, urinary protein excretion in Group B were higher than those in Group C significantly, they were 165.0 +/- 15.6 mumol/L vs 109.8 +/- 10.0 mumol/L, 27.8 +/- 3.6 mmol/L vs 18.7 +/- 2.5 mmol/L and 68.2 +/- 10.1 mg/24 hrs vs 44.6 +/- 8.5 mg/24 hrs, respectively, all P < 0.05. The pathological changes of renal mesenchyme and degree of glomerulosclerosis were also heavier in Group B.

CONCLUSIONThe susceptibility of chronic renal failure rats to the nephrotoxicity of CAM increases in long-term use of low dose CAM which could accelerate the deterioration of renal impairment in the model rats.