Abstract: Objective To observe the protective role of artorvastatin for kidney in rats with renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham-operated group(group A,n = 18),unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)group(group B,n = 18), UUO with artorvastatin treated group(group C,n = 18). Artorvastatin put to use 3 days before surgery. UUO and sham rats received equal volume physiological salif by daily gastric gavage. Rats were killed after 3,7,14 days of the surgery. The kidney pathological changes were observed under microscope. The expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)and nuclear factor-кB(NF-кB)were analyzed by routine immunohistochemical method. Results The levels of ICAM-1 and NF-кB in group B were various and significantly higher with the extension of obstruction time. The levels of ICAM-1 and NF-кB in group C were significantly lower than those of group B at the same period(P ﹤ 0. 05). The level of NF-кB was significantly associated with ICAM-1(P ﹤ 0. 05). Conclusion Artorvastatin reduces ICAM-1 and NF-кB expression,resulting in decreased tubular damage and interstitial fibrosis. The effect of artorvastatin in reducing ICAM-1 perhaps implements through the inhibition of NF-кB partly.

Key words: nephrosis, artorvastatin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, NF-kappa B