The Effect of Curcumin on Renal Interstitial Fibrosis after Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction in Rats

Objective:To verify if curcumin can decrease the expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)rat models during the process of renal interstitial fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).Methods:The experiment was successfully conducted from May to August,2007 in Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operated group,UUO model group,and curcumin-treated group(10 in each group).The rats in the UUO model group and curcumin-treated group underwent UUO surgery.Rats in curcumin-treated group were given water suspension of curcumin powder(200 mg·kg-1·d-1) orally,while those in UUO model group and sham operation group were given water only instead.All of the rats were killed in 14 days after surgery.The levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and serum creatinine(Scr) were measured,histological changes were observed with Masson stain method,and Immunohistochemistry was performed on renal tissue to detect TGF-β1 and CTGF.Results:In the obstructed kidneys,there were significant renal interstieial fibrosis and interstitial space expansion.Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of TGFβ1 and CTGF was significantly increased in the obstructed kidneys.In comparison with the model group,BUN and Scr levels,interstitial volume,and the expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF in curcumin-treated group were significantly decreased.Conclusions:The results indicate that curcumin can down-regulate the expression of TGFβ1 and CTGF in UUO rats,through which curcumin might mitigate the pathological changes of the UUO renal tissue.It's suggested that curcumin can be used to slow down the progression of chronic renal disease.