Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis compound alleviates nephrotichyperlipidemia in rats

Objective To investigate the mechanism of lipid-lowering effect of the Astr agalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis compound (A&A) on nephrotic hyperl ipidemia in rats. Methods Rats with nephrotic syndrome from accelerated nephrotoxic serum nep hritis were used. They were divided into two groups: A&A treatment group an d nephrotic control group. Normal rats were used as a normal control group. Serum lipids, serum lipoprotein lipase ( LPL) and lecithin-cholesterol acy ltransferase (LCAT) were assayed biochemically and enzymatically. mRNAs of hepatic hydroxy-methyl glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA-R) and low-density l ipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) were assessed by Northern blot. Results In nephrotic control group hyperlipidemia was found. The activities of serum LPL and LCAT were low. Hepatic HMG-CoA-R mRNA increased temporari ly at the early stage while LDL-R mRNA decreased group, serum total (TG), l ow-density lipoproteins (LDL and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) were significantly lower than those in nephrotic control group. There was no cha nge in the amount of hepatic HMG-CoA-R mRNA, but hepatic LDL-R mRNA and act ivities of serum LPL and LCAT increased significantly. Conclusions A&A alleviates hyperlipidemia considerably in nephrotic rats. A &A improves disorders of lipid metabolism perhaps through up-regulating the expression of hepatic LDL-R gene and through increasing the activities of serum LPL and LCAT.