Objective To observe the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on renal function and expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)

integrin-linked kinase(ILK) and bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7) in chronic renal failure(CRF) rabbits

so as to reveal its mechanisms underlying improvement of CRF.Methods Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control

model

medication and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion(moxibustion)groups(n=6 rabbits in each group). The CRF model was established by gavage of suspension of Adenine(150 mg·kg-1·d-1)for 21 days. Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was applied to"Mingmen"(GV4)and bilateral"Shenshu"(BL23)

"Pishu"(BL20)and for 5 moxa-cones every time. Rabbits of the medication group was treated by gavage of Losartan Potassium(2. 33 mg·kg-1·d-1). All the treatments were conducted once daily

12 times a course for consecutive 3 courses with a two-day rest after each course of treatment. Serum creatinine(Scr)

blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and 24 h urine protein contents were detected by using an automatic biochemical analyzer.The expression levels of CTGF

ILK and BMP-7 proteins and mRNA in the kidney tissue were determined by Western blot and quantitative real time-PCR

separately.Results Following modeling

Scr and BUN and 24 h urine protein contents were significantly increased in the model group in comparison with the control group(P<0. 01). After the intervention

Scr and BUN contents were all significantly decreased in both the moxibustion and medication groups relevant to the model group(P<0. 01)

suggesting an improvement of the renal function. Compared with the control group

the expression levels of ILK and CTGF mRNAs and proteins were obviously up-regulated(P<0. 01)

and those of BMP-7 mRNA and protein significantly decreased in the model group(P< 0. 01). In comparison with the model group

the expression levels of ILK and CTGF mRNAs and proteins were significantly down-regulated in the two treatment groups(P<0. 01

P<0. 05)

and those of BMP-7 mRNA and protein markedly increased in the two treatment groups(P<0. 01). In comparison with the medication group

the expression level of ILK protein was significantly up-regulated(P<0. 01)and BMP-7 protein was significantly down-regulated(P<0. 01)in the moxibustion group. No significant differences were found between the medication and moxibustion groups in down-regulating the levels of Scr

BUN and 24 h urine protein and expression of ILK mRNA

CTGF mRNA and protein and BMP-7 mRNA(P>0. 05).Conclusion Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can improve renal function in CRF rabbits

which may be related to its effects in suppressing the expression of ILK and CTGF

and in up-regulating the expression of BMP-7 in the kidney tissue.