A Chinese herb for anti-inflammation, blood circulation promotion and spasmolysis improves renal ultrastructure of rats undergoing 4-week exhaustive exercise at simulated altitude of 4000 meters

Lin Xi-xiu; Zhao Yong-qiang; Xie Ya-ping; Qiu Ji-wang; Luo Zi-qiang; Qu Shu-lin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.38.014

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Chinese herb for anti-inflammation, blood circulation promotion and spasmolysis can repair the kidney, supply renal blood, reduce the permeability of the glomerular capil aries, and enhance renal filtration function. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of a Chinese herb for anti-inflammation, blood circulation promotion and spasmolysis on ultrastructure of renal cells and a-smooth muscle actin in rats after 4-week exhaustive exercise living at simulated altitude of 4 000 meters. <br> METHODThirty-two rats which could complete 15-minute adaptive run on the treadmil at a speed of 10 m/min were enrol ed and randomized into normal control group, exhaustive exercise group, exhaustive exercise+high-altitude group and exhaustive exercise+Chinese herb group, eight rats in each group. Except the normal control group, rats in the other three groups were subjected to exhaustive exercise, living at simulated altitude of 4 000 meters fol owed by exhaustive exercise, and intragastric administration of Chinese herb fol owed by 4-week exhaustive exercise, respectively. The ultrastructure of renal cells in rats was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining and transmission electron microscope, and expression of a-smooth muscle actin detected by immunohistochemical method. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the exhaustive exercise group, rats appeared to have chronic renal injury, the ultrastructure of glomerular filtration membrane was damaged and tubulointerstitial fibrosis occurred. As compared with the exhaustive exercise group, the movement distance of rats in the exhaustive exercise+high-altitude group and exhaustive exercise+Chinese herb group was extended (P<0.05), and the damaged ultrastructure of the kidney was more obviously improved;in addition, the expression of a-smooth muscle actin was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Results show that the Chinese herb for anti-inflammation, blood circulation promotion and spasmolysis combined with living at simulated altitude of 4 000 meters can protect against renal ultrastructure damage in rats fol owing 4-week exhaustive exercise.