Fig. 1.

Effects of AST on renal impairment in nephrectomized (Nx) rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats underwent sham operation (Sham), 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) or Nx followed by AST treatment (Nx + AST), as described in “Materials and methods”. Measurements of SBP (a), serum creatinine level (b), blood urea nitrogen level (c), and daily urinary protein excretion (d). The evaluation of glomerular sclerosis by PAS staining (e) and interstitial fibrosis by Masson-trichrome staining (f) is shown. Left panels represent the quantification of glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, and the right bar graph showed the quantification of stained areas. Scale bar, 100 µm. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 versus Sham; **P < 0.01 versus Nx. N = 10 per group