Changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) and calcium concentration in cultured glomerular mesangial cells of rats with obstructive jaundice

Objective To explore the effect of mitochondrial membrane potential(Δψm) and calcium concentration on the kidney injury of rats with obstructive jaundice and to probe into the underlying mechanism. Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dowley rats, weighing 200 g to 250 g were randomly divided into three groups:control group; sham operation group; experiment group. And the rats of experiment group were subdivided into two groups according to the time (15 d, 21 d) after the common bile duct ligation. The experiment groups were rendered jaundiced by doubly ligating the common bile duct. Glomeruli were isolated, the glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) were cultured. The mitochondrial membrane potential(Δψm) was measured by flow cytometry; the concentration of calcium was measured by confocal microscopes. Results The amount of mitochondrial membrane potential(Δψm) was decreased(P0.05) in the rats with obstructive jaundice, compared with the control; the concentration of calcium was increased(P0.05) in the rats with obstructive jaundice, compared with the control. Conclusion The calcium incurrent that leads to changes in amount of mitochondrial membrane potential(Δψm) has significant effect on the kidney injury of the rats with obstructive jaundice.