Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine if Plantaginis Semen Herbal Acupuncture(PSA) has a protective effect against glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats. Rats were dehydrated for 24hr and then injected with 8 ml/kg of $50\%$ glycerol, one-half of dose in each hindlimb muscle. In experiments for PSA effect, rats received 0.1 ml of PSA extraction in both sides of corresponding Shenso($BL_{23}$) of human body for 3 days after injection of glycerol. The experimental group were di vided into the Normal group, the Control group, the PSA group. Glycerol injection decreased glomerular filtration rate and increased urine volume, serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of glucose, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $CI^-$. These result show that glycerol injection result in acute renal failure. PSA significantly increased glomerular filtration rate and significantly decreased serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of glucose, $Na^+$ and $CI^-$ as compared Control group. This suggests that PSA could be used in prevention and treatment of acute renalfailure. However, the precise mechanisms of PSA protection remain to be determined.