Abstract: Aim To study the protective effects of tetrandine (Tet) on acute ischemic renal failure in rats. Methods Tet 20mg/kg, 40mg/kg once daily, for three days and one hour before operation was administered orally to rars. The models of renal ischemia and reperfusion in rats were built. The malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na⁺, K⁺-ATP ase and Ca²⁺-ATPase of renal tissue were determined and the histopathological structure of kidneys was obseved. Results In the reperfusion group, the level of MDA was increased and the levels of SOD, Na⁺, K⁺-ATP ase and Ca²⁺-ATP ase were decreased significantly. In the Tet group the level of MDA was decreased and the levels of SOD, Na⁺, K⁺-ATP ase and Ca²⁺-ATP ase were increased significantly. The wide denatufcition of epithelial cell of uriniferous xubules was observed by light microscope in the reperfusion group but little in the Tet group. Conclusion Tet has protective effects on acute ischemic renal failure in rats.

Key words: tetrandrine, acute ischemic renal failure, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, ATPase