Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shenfuqiangxin capsule and the underlying mechanism on cardio-renal syndrome(CRS) in rats induced by infrarenal aortic-clamping after renal ischaemia.METHODS: Male Wistar rats underwent infrarenal aortic-clamping after renal ischaemia or sham operation. The surviving CRS rats were divided randomly into three groups: CRS group(CRS + 10 m L·kg-1·d-1pure water by gavage), SFQX group(CRS + 13.2 g crude drug·kg- 1·d- 1Shenfuqiangxin by gavage),and handleregionpeptide(HRP)group(CRS+10mg/kg HRP by vein). Sham operation rats were given10 m L·kg-1·d-1pure water. Treatments were given8 weeks after surgery, which lasted for 4 weeks. Therats were detected for heart structure and function by transthoracic echocardiography. PPR m RNA was detected by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR). To determine whether the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signal pathway is included in the heart and kidney protective function of Shenfuqiangxin capsule, MAPK related proteins such as posophorylated C-Jun amino terminal kinase(p-JNK), posophorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase ?(p-ERK1/2), posophorylated p38(p-p38) were examined by Western Blot.Apoptosis in heart and kidney tissues were detected by d UTP Nick End Labeling staining.RESULTS: Shenfuqiangxin capsule alleviated myocardial apoptosis and inhibited PRR m RNA expression and p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, p-p38 proteins expression in CRS rats.CONCLUSION: All the results suggest that Shenfuqiangxin capsule improves the injured heart and kidney function maybe through inhibition of MAPK response pathway.

Key words: Renal ischaemia, Cardi-orenal syndrome, Shenfuqiangxin capsule, Mitogen-activated protein kinases, Infrarenal aortic-clamping, (Pro) rennin receptor