To investigate the effects of prune juice intervention on ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats and its mechanism of action.

Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group( A group), ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate group(B group), 2 mL·(kg·d)^-1 original serous of prune juice intervention group(C group), 4 mL·(kg·d)^-1 original serous of prune juice intervention group(D group), 8 mL·(kg·d)^-1 original serous of prune juice intervention group(E group), 8 in each group. Except of the blank control group, the rats in each group were given deionized water which contained 1% glycol to induce calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. Before and after the experiment (four weeks after treatment), serum and urine concentrations of ionized calcium and magnesium, urine oxalic acid.urine citric acid and serum concentration of creatinine were measared. The content of malondialdehyde(MDA)and activity of total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)in renal tissues were determined, and the formation of calcium oxalate crystals in renal tissues was observed with HE staining, and the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells was detected by TUNEL method.

All of three doses of prunes significantly reduced the change of biochemical index in the blood and urine and the renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis index caused by ethylene glycol , increased greatly urinary magnesium concentration, significantly reduced the calcium oxalate kidney stone formation in rats induced by ethylene glycol, and the effect was dose dependent.

All of three doses of prunes can inhibit ethylene glycol-induced calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rates obviously , and there is a positive correlation between concentration-response relationship.

Key words Kidney Calculi; Calcium Oxalate; Rats