Vitamin D Can Ameliorate Chlorhexidine Gluconate-Induced Peritoneal Fibrosis and Functional Deterioration through the Inhibition of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of Mesothelial Cells

Figure 2

Vitamin D treatment decreased chlorhexidine gluconate- (CG-) induced peritoneal membrane fibrosis in a rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats received a daily intraperitoneal (IP) injection of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) with or without administration of low (L, 500 ng/kg) or middle (M, 750 ng/kg) dose 1α,25(OH)₂D₃ (vit. D). Control rats received a daily IP instillation of normal saline (NS). (a) Representative images of peritoneum samples extracted 29 days after initial IP injection, stained with Masson’s trichrome. CG instillation induced matrix deposition and thickening of the peritoneal membrane, while vitamin D treatment ameliorated these effects. Magnification ×200. (b) Quantification of the peritoneal membrane thickness. The antifibrotic effects of vitamin D were dose-dependent. Data represent mean ± S.D. () (; ).

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