Objective: To investigate the effect of carthamus tinctorius injection on expression of caspase-3 and bcl-2 after renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Methods: Seventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=25

in each):normal control group

ischemia/reperfusion group and treatment group.After the renal ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established

the serum creatinine、the urine osmotic pressure and the blood osmotic pressure were measured to evaluate the change of renal function;the apoptosis rate in ischemia/reperfusion renal tissure were measured by TUNEL method;the caspase-3 and bcl-2 concentration were measured by immunohistochemistry.Results:The renal function got worse

and the apoptosis rate

bcl-2 and caspase-3 concentration were significantly higher in ischemia/reperfusion group than those in normal control group.As compared with ischemia/reperfusion group

the renal function was improved

the apoptosis rate decreased

bcl-2 expression increased and caspase-3 expression decreased significantly in treatment group.Conclusion:Carthamus tinctorius injection has significant effect on the up-regulation of bcl-2 and down-regulation of caspase-3 expression in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.