【Animal Modeling】 - Hypertensive Kidney Yin Deficiency Animal Model

  (1) Reproduction method: Adult rats were subjected to removal of one kidney and ligation of 2/3 of the other renal artery. The tail artery blood pressure of the rats was measured 2 weeks after surgery, and those with a systolic blood pressure greater than 140mmHg (18.6kPa) were identified as hypertensive rats. Animals were euthanized at 4 time points 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 4 months after surgery. Before euthanization, 24-hour urine was collected and 24-hour urine protein levels were measured; Then, blood was taken from the heart and blood creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations were measured; Execute the animal and immediately remove the kidney, prepare pathological tissue samples, and observe relevant indicators.

  (2) Model characteristics: The blood pressure of experimental animals increased 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 4 months after surgery, and the blood creatinine, urea nitrogen concentration, and 24-hour urine protein level significantly increased 2 and 4 months after surgery, indicating serious damage to renal function. One month after surgery, the glomerular capillary basement membrane (GBM) of the animals slightly thickened, with focal mesangial cell proliferation and increased mesangial matrix. Two months after the operation, the mesangial matrix increased significantly, especially the blood vessels. The deposition of PAS positive substances and foam like changes were seen. The number of mesangial cells increased significantly, and crescent formation was seen in some cases. At 4 months, there was an increase in sclerotic glomeruli, with deposition of glassy material strongly positive for PAS staining along the vascular wall, and significant thickening of GBM. Ordinary electron microscopy shows that the mesangial area of the animal's glomerulus widens 2 weeks after surgery, with a tendency to increase the matrix. At 1 month after surgery, the mesangial matrix increases, the number of cells increases, and there is edema under endothelial cells. The thickness of the basement membrane varies. At 2 months of disease, the basement membrane generally thickens. At 4 months after surgery, the inner skin cells become swollen and degenerate, the endothelial cell pores open, and the mesangial matrix significantly increases and hardens, with proliferation of basement membrane like substances and dense deposits, The mesangial area is significantly widened, the basement membrane is significantly thickened, and small mound like protrusions can be formed towards the epithelial side, and foot process fusion phenomenon can be seen. The GBM of hypertensive rats significantly thickened 2 and 4 months after surgery. Histochemical electron microscopy showed that the size of the loose layer outside the GBM of normal animals was consistent, with regularly arranged PEI stained particles (which are the sites where negative charge sites exist). The number of PEI stained particles was significantly increased at the junction of the basement membrane, and there were also a small number of PEI stained particles with shallow staining, inconsistent size, and irregular arrangement in the loose layer of the basement membrane. PEI staining particles on GBM have a large number and high density. Scattered PEI staining particles can also be seen in the glomerular mesangial matrix. As the disease progresses, the number of PEI stained particles in the model animals gradually decreases. Four months after surgery, the model animals showed a significant reduction in the number of PEI stained particles in the outer loose layer of GBM, with sparse arrangement and irregular arrangement caused by particle loss. The polyimide (PEI) staining particles in the glomerular mesangial matrix also gradually decrease with the progression of the disease.

  (3) The theoretical basis of this model in comparative medicine is mainly that hypertension generally manifests as a syndrome of kidney yin deficiency and internal heat. This model is effective with nourishing kidney yin formulas, but worsens its condition with warming kidney yang formulas. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiation of clinical hypertension is often characterized by liver and kidney yin deficiency or liver yang hyperactivity. This method simulates the pathogenesis of hypertension and replicates the hypertension disease model. However, further evaluation is needed to determine whether the syndrome characteristics belong to simple kidney yin deficiency,