Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of activating silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) on the early kidney damage in rats with severe burn. Methods Thirty healthy male SD rats were divided into sham injury group (SI), pure burn group (PB), and SIRT1 activator group (SA) according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in groups PB and SA were inflicted with 30% total body surface area full-thickness scald (hereinafter referred to as burn) on the back. Immediately after injury, rats in group PB were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline in the dosage of 50 mL/kg, and those in group SA with 1 mg/mL (final mass concentration) resveratrol in the dosage of 50 mL/kg. Rats in group SI were sham injured and intraperitoneally injected with normal saline in the dosage of 50 mL/kg immediately after injury. Kidney tissue and abdominal aorta blood of rats in the three groups were collected at 24 hours after injury. The morphology of kidney tissue was observed after HE staining. The serum content of creatinine and urea nitrogen was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Protein expressions of SIRT1, Bax, and Bcl-2 in kidney tissue were determined with Western blotting. mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-10 in kidney tissue were determined with real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD-t test. Results (1) In rats of group SI, structures of kidney tubules and glomeruli were intact. In rats of group PB, structures of kidney tubules were not clear with casts in them, and glomeruli showed pyknosis. In rats of group SA, structures of kidney tubules were relatively intact, and the pyknosis of glomeruli were slighter as compared with that of group PB with fewer glomeruli showing pyknosis. (2) The serum content of creatinine and urea nitrogen in rats of group PB was (67±14) μmol/L and (22.0±4.4) mmol/L, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of group SI [(28±7) μmol/L and (5.5±1.2) mmol/L respectively, with t values respectively 6.07 and 11.53, P values below 0.01]. The serum content of creatinine and urea nitrogen in rats of group SA was (39±9) μmol/L and (14.1±1.7) mmol/L, respectively, significantly lower than that of group PB (with t values respectively 4.09 and 4.17, P values below 0.01). (3) Compared with those of group SI, protein expressions of SIRT1 and Bcl-2 in kidney tissue of rats in group PB were significantly decreased (with t values respectively 16.32 and 19.58, P values below 0.01), while the protein expression of Bax was significantly increased (t=5.98, P<0.01). Compared with those of group PB, protein expressions of SIRT1 and Bcl-2 in kidney tissue of rats in group SA were significantly increased (with t values respectively 6.94 and 5.37, P values below 0.01), while the protein expression of Bax was significantly decreased (t=3.44, P<0.01). (4) mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 in kidney tissue of rats in group PB were 17.0±4.0, 2.27±0.59, and 2.5±0.9, respectively, significantly higher than those of group SI (1.0, 1.00, and 1.0, respectively, with t values from 3.27 to 8.93, P<0.05 or P<0.01). mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β in kidney tissue of rats in group SA were 6.8±1.2 and 1.18±0.26, respectively, significantly lower than those of group PB (with t values respectively 4.59 and 4.32, P values below 0.01). mRNA expression of IL-10 in kidney tissue of rats in group SA was 5.0±1.0, significantly higher than that of group PB (t=5.51, P<0.01). Conclusions Activating SIRT1 on early stage of severe burn in rats can decrease levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen, thus improving the kidney function. It can down-regulate the protein expression of Bax and up-regulate the protein expression of Bcl-2, thus reducing the apoptosis in kidney tissue. Meanwhile, it can inhibit expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β and promote the expression of IL-10, thus alleviating the inflammatory response in kidney.