Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of ganoderan on renal damage in rat models with chronic glomerulonephritis induced by adriamycin.
Methods: 48 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, nephritic model and ganoderan treatment groups. Changes of the following indices in the three groups were observed 6 weeks after treatment: 24-hour urine protein, albumen, serum creatinine, cholesterol. Histopathological observations of the renal cortex were made by light and electron microscopy.
Results: Compared with controls, levels of 24-hour urine protein (9.60+/-0.57 mg/d vs. 82.50+/-3.18 mg/d), serum creatinine (35.25+/-2.63 micromol/L vs. 44.75+/-8.06 micromol/L) and cholesterol (1.15+/-0.10 mmol/L vs. 4.02+/-0.25 mmol/L) of rats in the nephritic model group were increased (P < 0.05), and the concentration of albumen was decreased (35.98+/-1.34 g/L vs. 19.05+/-0.62 g/L, P < 0.05). Ganoderan administration decreased 24-hour urine protein (82.50+/-3.18 mg/d vs. 45.01+/-3.94 mg/d, P < 0.05). Following ganoderan, the pathological changes in kidney tissue were improved compared with those in the nephritic model group.
Conclusion: Ganoderan exerts protective effects in rats with chronic glomerulonephritis induced by ADR. Ganoderan reduced 24-hour urine protein, serum creatinine, cholesterol, improving renal function and reducing the severity of renal injury.