Effect Of Heme Oxygenase And Endogenous CO On Renal Morphology And Function Of Experimental Cirrhotic Rat

Objective To observe the expression and the location of heme oxygenase-l(HO-1) in the kidney of cirrhotic rat and the changes of the morphology in relative tissues, and to discuss the function of HO-1 and endogenous carbon monoxide(CO) in renal damage in liver cirrhosis. Method Liver cirrhosis model rats were made by carbon tetrachloride(CCl₄). Two groups of cirrhosis rats were treated with the specific stimulator (hemin) and inhibitor (ZnPP) of HO-1 respectively. In all the tested animals, the COHb in blood were examined by using spectrophotometry and the renal tissues were pathologically observed and immunohistochemically stained. The expression degree of HO-1 and the changes of morphology in kidney were measured by image analysis system. Result Cirrhosis models were successfully constructed. The Caliper diameter of renal glomerulus and glomerulus/ bladder ratio enlarged in kidney of experimental rats with cirrhosis.In the cirrhotic control group and hemin stimulated group, the levels of CO in blood and expression of HO-1 in kidney significantly increased compared with normal control group (P<0.01). In the ZnPP inhibited group, however, these measured paramenters reduced compared with cirrhotic control group. In the cirrhotic control group ZnPP inhibited group, the plasma creatinine and urea concentration increased markedly. But in the hemin stimulated group, the plasma creatinine and urea concentration decreased. Conclusion These result show that cirrhosis may result in damage of kidney. The HO/CO system is probably involved in the pathogenesis of kidney damage in hepatic cirrhosis. HO-1 and endogenous CO may have some protective effect to kidney damage of cirrhosis.