Objective To study the influence of Ganshenbo on the components of
extracellular matrix of renal tissue, such as fibronetin
(FN), laminin (LN), and collangen Ⅳ (Col Ⅳ), and on the gene expressions of the
extracellular matrix, in the rat with 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NT). Methods Immunohistochemical techniques and hybridization in situ were used to detect FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their mRNA expressions, TN-8502 multi-functional graph analysis system was used to process the experimental data, and SPSS statistical software was used to conduct the statistical processing. Results It was showed that there were no FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their positive reactants of mRNA found in the rats in both the normal control group and sham-operation group; FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their intensely-positive yellow reactants of mRNA were found in glomerular cytoplasm and tubular cytoplasm in the rats in the 5/6 NT group; FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their positive reactants of mRNA were found decreased in the rats in the valsartan group, as compared with those in the 5/6 NT group (P<0.05); and FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their positive reactants of mRNA were found markedly decreased in the
Ganshenbao group, as compared with those in the 5/6 NT group (P<0.01).Conclusion One of the mechanisms of preventing and treating renal fibrosis of Ganshenbao is down-regulating FN, LN and Col Ⅳ and their gene expressions in the renal tissue.