Abstract: The aim of study was to investigate the protective effects of astaxanthin on kidney inflammation factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in exercise-related renal ischemia-reperfusion injury rats.72 SPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group (C group,n=12),general training group (M group, n=12), overtraining group (OM group, n=24) and astaxanthin + overtraining group (AM group, n=24). During the experiment,the rats were given astaxanthin,gavages (ig) dose was 20 mg/kg per day.The rats were assigned to a 56 day increasing load swimming training.24 hours after the last training, we observed the glomerular ECM deposition,the serum urea nitrogen and creatinine,the expression of inflammatory cytokines protein and gene,TGF-β1 gene in renal tissue.The results showed that 8 weeks of training caused exercise-induced renal ischemia reperfusion in rats,with the increasement of glomerular ECM deposition and the impairment of renal function.The glomerular ECM deposition of C group and M group appear no differences (P>0.05);OM group was significantly higher than that in C group and M group (P< 0.01);AM group was significantly lower than that of OM group (P< 0.05).The serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels of OM group and AM group were significantly higher than C group (P<0.01),AM group was significantly lower than OM group (P<0.05);the expression of renal TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 protein in OM group and AM group were significantly higher than C group (P<0.05 or P<0.01),AM group was significantly lower than OM group (P<0.05);the expression of renal TNF-α mRNA, IL-1β mRNA, IL-6 and IL-18 mRNA in OM group and AM group were significantly higher than C group (P<0.01),AM group was significantly lower than OM group (P<0.05);the expression of renal TGF-β1 mRNA in AM group (P<0.05) and OM group (P<0.01) was significantly higher than C group,AM group was significantly lower than OM group (P<0.05).To conclude,the supplement of astaxanthin can effectively inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines in renal tissue thereby reducing the expression of TGF-β1 in renal tissue when overtraining-induced renal ischemia-reperfusion occurs,maintain ECM homeostasis,delay or avoid the injury of renal.

Key words: astlxanthin, exercise-related renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammation factors, TGF-&beta, 1, extracellular matrix