ABSTRACT Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluating microcirculation perfusion of Dendrobium candidum in the hepatic fibrosis model rats with renal injury. Methods Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (NG)

model group (MG) and Dendrobium officinale group (DG)

with 8 rats in each group. Except NG

The other two groups of rats were made into CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis models. DG rats are administered with the high-dose fresh expressed juice of Dendrobium candidum (7.5 g/kg ) for 4 weeks. The shape and size changes of the kidney and the blood perfusion of the renal cortex are observed separately by conventional two-dimensional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)

and the time to peak (TTP)

peak intensity (PSI)

ascending slope (A) and area under curve (AUC) under the time intensity curve (TIC) of the region of interest are quantitatively analyzed. 24 hours urines before execution and abdominal aorta bleed after execution are collected for testing the blood creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) by automatic biochemical detector

and calculating the endogenous creatinine clearance rate (Ccr). Liver and kidney tissues are taken for HE and Masson staining to observe the pathological changes. Results Compared with NG

the histopathological examination of the livers in MG and DG rats showed the liver fibrosis was obvious; CEUS examination showed that TTP prolonges

PSI and A are decrease

AUC increases in the renal cortical TIC curve (P<0.05)

and Cr and BUN levels increase

Ccr decreases (P<0.05)

which suggest that kidney function is impaired; Compared with MG

the pathological changes of liver tissues in DG rats are improved

TTP shorten

PSI and A increase

AUC decreases (P<0.05)

Cr and BUN levels decrease

and Ccr levels increases (P<0.05). Routine two-dimensional ultrasound and pathological examination showed that there have no obvious changes in the morphology and histopathology of the rat kidneys in all groups. Conclusion High-dose fresh extract of Dendrobium candidum can improve the microcirculation perfusion of renal injury in rats with hepatic fibrosis

which can be evaluated in a real-time quantitative way by TIC parameters of CEUS.