Effects of Astragalus membranaceus on histopathology of renal tissue induced by highª²energy shock wave

    SHENG Binª²Wu, CHEN Xingª²Fa, HE Daª²Lin, NAN Xunª²Yi

    Department of Urology, First Hospital, Xi¬ðan Jiaotong University, Xi¬ðan 710061, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To study the protective effects of astragalus membranaceus on renal damage induced by highª²energy shock wave (HESW). METHODS: Fortyª²five healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups at random control group (n=15), shams (n=15), and astragulus membranaceus treated animals (n=15) and respectively were given intravenously verapamil (0.4 mg/kg), physiological saline (20 mL), and astragulus membranaceus (2.4 g/kg). HESW (1500 shocks, 18 kV, MZª²V made in China) was applied to the right kidneys of the anesthetized male rabbits in the three groups and the renal histopathological changes were observed. RESULTS: Light microscopy revealed injury of interstitial congestion and segmental renal tubular necrosis in the shams after shocking. There was cell wall injury in part of epithelial cells due to cellular necrosis or changes of adhesiveness. Electron microscopy revealed changes as follows: a sharp decrease in glomerular capillary, vascular deformity, loss of normal footª²process pattern over capillary, and thickening and fragmentation of glomerular basement membranes. The tubular cells were desquamated ......