Evaluation of melittin-induced acute kidney injury in different degrees in rats by contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques

To evaluate the renal perfusion of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by melittin in the rats using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into high concentration of melittin group, low concentration of melittin group and control group with 8 rats in each group. Melittin was injected through the rats' right femoral vein, to establish a rat model of AKI. Twelve hours later, CEUS and its Quantitative analysis of TIC parameters was performed. Blood samples from rats were taken to detect creatinine (Cr), right kidney was removed to perform HE staining and apoptosis markers (BAX,Bcl-2,Casepase3) assessment. The correlations among the quantitative parameters of CEUS TIC, Cr and apoptosis marker of PCR were analyzed.Results shows: 1.The quantitative parameters of CEUS TIC(Peak, TP, AUC, MTT) and apoptosis markers PCR parameters (BAX, Bcl-2, Casepase3) were significantly different among three groups (p < 0.01);2. Correlation analysis: Within the high concentration group: There was a correlation among the quantitative parameters of CEUS TIC, cr and apoptosis marker of PCR;In the low concentration group: There was a correlation between the quantitative parameters of CEUS TIC and the parameters of apoptosis marker of PCR, but There was no correlation between Cr and the former two. CEUS can provide a sensitive,real-time,non-invasive technique to detect and evaluate the degree of AKI earlier than Cr.