ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression change of mitophagy-related proteins in skeletal muscle in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome and to explain the partial action mechanism of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) for spleen deficiency syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male SD rats, after normal feeding, were randomly divided into a normal group, a spleen deficiency group, a Zusanli group and a non-acupoint group, ten rats in each group. Except the normal group, the three factors modeling method was used for 14 days to establish the model of spleen deficiency syndrome on the other 3 groups. The rats in the Zusanli group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), while the rats in the non-acupoint group were treated with EA at bilateral non acupoint (dense-sparse wave, frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, 20 min per treatment, once a day for 10 days). The rats in the normal group and spleen deficiency group were treated with immobilization for 20 min per day, and no EA was given. The HPLC method was applied to measure the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in skeletal muscle. The Western blotting method was applied to measure the expression of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), p-AMPK, ULK1, p-ULK1，LC3-Ⅰand LC3-Ⅱ in skeletal muscle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ATP content in the spleen deficiency group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (<0.01); the ATP content in the Zusanli group was significantly higher than that in the spleen deficiency group (<0.05) but lower than that in the normal group (<0.05), there was no significant difference between the non-acupoint group and the spleen deficiency group (>0.05). Compared with the normal group, the AMP/ATP in the spleen deficiency group and the Zusanli group were significantly up-regulated (<0.01, <0.05). The differences of p-AMPK/AMPK between the spleen deficiency group and the normal group was not significant (>0.05). Compared with the normal group and spleen deficiency group, the p-AMPK/AMPK in the Zusanli group was significantly up-regulated (both <0.05). The p-ULK1/ULK1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰin the Zusanli group was higher than those in the normal group and spleen deficiency group (all <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) might activate AMPK and produce stable ULK1/AMPK compound and increase the mitochondrial autophagy, which could regulate spleen-stomach and treat spleen deficiency.</p>
ABSTRACT
AIM:To explore the changes and the mechanism of heart functions in the rats with spleen-qi defi-ciency syndrome.METHODS:The rats were randomly divided into blank control group and spleen-qi deficiency model group.The changes of cardiac functions in the rats were determined by ultrasonic imaging with a high-resolution in vivo im-aging system.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes.The protein expression of brain natriuretic peptide ( BNP) in the myocardium was assessed by Western blotting.The contents of BNP and cAMP in the serum and myocardium were measured by ELISA.The mRNA expression of basic fibroblast growth factor ( bFGF) and protein kinase A ( PKA) was detected by real-time PCR.RESULTS:Compared with blank control group, the myocardial cells in the model group had different degrees of necrosis and degeneration.Stroke volume and ejection fraction were decreased.The contents of cAMP and BNP in the serum and myocardium were increased in model group.The protein expression of BNP and the mR-NA expression of bFGF and PKA were also increased.CONCLUSION:Spleen-qi deficiency syndrome causes heart func-tion decline in rats.The expression of BNP, cAMP, PKA and bFGF is all increased.
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Objective To study the effect of different doses of Zhengan xifeng decoction on Raf-1 mRNA and protein expression in the cardiovascular tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats( SHR). Methods A total of 50 male SHR,24 weeks old,were randomly divided into the model,low dose,medium dose,high dose of Zhengan xifeng decoction and the compound apocynum groups,10 in each group. Ten homologous male rats( WKY)served as the normal control group. After gavaged for 5 weeks,western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect the Raf-1 protein and mRNA expression in the cardiovascular tissue,respectively. Results Compared with the model control group,both Raf-1 protein and mRNA expressions significantly increased in all treatment groups( P〈0. 01 ). Conclusion The Zhengan xifeng decoction can stimulate cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of Raf-1.
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Objective: To study the effects of nano red elemental selenium on liver protection, tumor inhibition and immune regulation. [WT5FZ]Methods: [WT5BZ]Models of acute liver injury induced by CCl 4, S 180 tumor growth and immune regulation were used. Results: Nano red elemental selenium could increase blood and liver Se contents, inhibit the increase of liver MDA and serum AST induced by CCl 4, decrease tumor weight and increase phagocytic ratio and NK cell activity in S 180 bearing mice, increase immune activities in normal mice. All these improvements were statistically significant (P