Objective To observe the relationship between the lumbus and kidney through the experimental study on the lumbar pathological changes caused by long-term upright posture in rats

and to understand the TCM theory that the lumbus is the house of kidney.Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomized into the normal group

the upright posture group

and the posture recovery group.The upright posture models were made with the shoulder joint amputation and elevated food and water.Nine weeks later

the changes in X-ray examination

blood glucose

body weight

and kidney morphology were observed to see the influence of pathological changes of lumbar vertebrae on the kidney.Results In the upright posture

the X-ray examination showed that the lower lumbar intervertebral spaces became narrowed and a labial-like hyperplasia appeared in the anterior margin of vertebrae.In the upright posture group

the body weight

diameter and perimeter significantly lowered than that of the normal group（P<0.01）.In the upright posture group and posture recovery group

diameter and perimeter increased significantly as compared with the normal group（P<0.01）.There existed pathological changes in the kidney tissues

and the size of glomerulus increased significantly（P<0.01）.Conclusion The pathological changes of lumbar vertebrae due to upright posture may cause the pathological changes in the kidney tissues and the posture recovery improves these pathological changes.There is a close relationship between the lumbus and kidney.The TCM theory that the lumbus is the house of kidney is proved through the very modern experiment.