【Animal modeling】-Protective effect of curcumin on acute kidney injury in pregnant hypertensive rats

  Objective To investigate the protective effect of curcumin on acute kidney injury induced by gestational hypertension in rats and explore its potential mechanism.

  Methods Thirty-two pregnant Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into four groups: normal group, curcumin group, pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) group and PIH+curcumin group. Rats in PIH group and PIH+curcumin group were injected with 26 mol/L NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester every day to induce PIH model for 4 days. Rats in the curcumin group and PIH+curcumin group were fed curcumin 204.8 mol/L (suspended in 2% carboxymethyl cellulose solution) from day 18 for 7 days. A series of indicators were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometry, respectively, to evaluate the pathological morphology, renal function, oxidative stress and inflammatory response of renal tissue. The expression and distribution of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

  Results Compared with the PIH group, the renal function of the PIH+curcumin group was significantly improved (P<0.01), and the renal tissue damage and oxidative stress were also significantly recovered (P<0.01). (191. 23 ± 18. 82) decreased to (108. 35 ± 11. 24) (P < 0. 01). The levels of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 in the kidneys of rats in the PIH group were significantly increased, but were significantly decreased after the application of curcumin. )% (P<0.01), while p-Smad3/Smad3 decreased from (312.82±30.26)% to (143.05±15.31)% (P<0.01).

  Conclusion Curcumin can protect acute kidney injury in pregnant hypertensive rats by regulating TGF-β1 pathway.