A.Yu. Terekhov

There was studied the influence of the dittander extract (Lepidium latifolium L.) on biochemical indices of nitrogen metabolism in rats with experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis (EAG) in case of monotherapy and combined introduction with prednisolone. EAG was reproduced by a single intraperitoneal injection of renal immunotoxin (RIT). Within 60 days the animals of experimental group received the dittander extract (Lepidium latifolium L.) in the dose of 300 mg/kg once a day. Plant nephroprotector dealcoholized lespeflanum was used as a reference agent in the dose of 5 ml/kg. Intact and control groups of animals received equivolume amount of purified water. Parallel to these groups of animals there were formed experimental groups that received similar research objects and in addition prednisolone in the dose of 6 mg/kg (Nycomed). In 3 months after the introduction of RIT the animals of the control group got moderate hyperazotemia: significant increase of the urea concentration up on 65 %, of creatinine up on 24 % and uric acid up on 54 %, compared with the values of intact group animals. The development of autoimmune inflammation of kidneys was accompanied by proteinuria and hyperproteinemia, mainly due to the proteins of globulin fraction. Red blood cells of transitional and renal epithelium, and white blood cells were present in the urinary sediment. The use of plant dittander extract in the dose of 300 mg/kg prevented the development of glomerular pathology and the change of nitrogen metabolism indices. However, the separate use of the dittander extract in case of EAG prevents the disturbance of the kidneys action less effectively than treatment with prednisolone or its combined introduction with the dittander extract; but the combined use prevents the display of a side effect of steroid therapy on nitrogen metabolism.