Objective: To investigate the effect of Shenkang injection (SKI) on the morphology changes induced by peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) as well as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in peritoneal dialysis rats. Method: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

4.25%PDS group

4.25%SKI low

middle and high dose groups. Except for the normal group

all of the remaining four groups were intraperitoneally injected with low

middle and high doses of SKI+4.25%PDS. At the 8th week after the injection

rats were anesthetized with chloral hydrate

and the peritoneal solution was gathered. The level of TNF-α was detected by ELISA method. The visceral peritoneum tissues of rats were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to observe the changes of peritoneal morphology. Immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of TGF-β1. Result: Compared with the normal group

rats in the PDS group showed significantly higher TNF-α and expressions of TGF-β1 (P<0.01)

swellon and deciduous peritoneal mesothelial cells

thickened sub-mesothelial matrix

and severe vascular proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with the PDS group

SKI middle and high dose groups showed decrease in TNF-α content (P<0.01). all SKI groups showed great reliefs in the structure changes of the peritoneum

decrease in the inflammatory cell infiltration and expression of TGF-β1 (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: SKI may be helpful in ameliorating the peritoneal fibrosis induced by PDS

which may be correlated with inhibiting increases in TNF-α and TNF-β1.