ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study whether Chaihu Longgu Mulitang can inhibit hypothalamic inflammation， mitigate anxiety-like behavior， and alleviate anxiety symptoms by regulating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB （p38 MAPK/NF-κB） signaling pathway in the rat model of generalized anxiety disorder （GAD）. MethodTwelve out of 74 Wistar rats were randomly selected as the blank group， and the remaining rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress for the modeling of GAD. The open field test （OFT） and elevated Porteus maze test （PMT） were conducted 14 days after modeling to detect the anxiety-like behaviors. Sixty successfully modeled rats were selected and randomized into model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （6， 12， and 24 g·kg-1， respectively） Chaihu Longgu Mulitang， and diazepam （1 mg·kg-1） groups （n=12） and administrated with corresponding drugs for 14 consecutive days. OFT and PMT were then carried out to examine the anxiety-like behaviors of the rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the hypothalamus and serum of rats were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， nuclear factor κB inhibitor α （IκBα）， and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 （Iba-1）. The protein levels of p38 MAPK， phosphorylated （p）-p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-NF-κB p65， and IκBα in the hypothalamus of rats were determined by Western blot. The expression of Iba-1 in the hypothalamic microglia was detected by immunofluorescence assay. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had decreased body weight， scattered dark yellow fur， increased irritability， and preference to hibernation in the corner. In addition， the modeled rats showed increased edge movement distance and time in OFT （P<0.01） and decreased movement distance and time and the number of entries in the open arm in PMT （P<0.01）. The modeling increased the fluorescence intensity of Iba-1 in paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus （P<0.01）， elevated the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum and hypothalamus （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-p38 MAPK， p-NF-κB p65， and Iba-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of IκBα （P<0.01） in the hypothalamus. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose Chaihu Longgu Mulitang and diazepam increased the body weight， improved the fur and behaviors， decreased the edge movement distance and time in OFT （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased the movement distance and time in the open arm in PMT （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Furthermore， they decreased the fluorescence intensity of Iba-1 in hypothalamic microglia （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum and hypothalamic tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of p38 MAPK， NF-κB p65， p-p38 MAPK， p-NF-κB p65， and Iba-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of IκBα （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the hypothalamus. ConclusionChaihu Longgu Mulitang can mitigate anxiety-like behaviors and relieve anxiety in GAD rats by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the activation of microglia and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the intervention mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang in rats with functional dyspepsia （FD） based on the Ras homolog gene family member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 （ROCK2）/Myosin phosphatase target Subunit 1 （MYPT1） pathway. MethodSixty male SD suckling rats in SPF grades were randomly divided into blank group （n=10） and model group （n=50）. The comprehensive modeling method （gavage administration of iodoacetamide+exhaustion of swimming+disturbance of hunger and satiety） was used to replicate the rat model of FD. After successful replication of the model， the rats in the model group were randomly divided into model group， mosapride group， and high， middle， and low-dose Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang groups， with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group and model group were given 10 mL kg-1·d-1 normal saline， those in the mosapride group were given 1.35 mg·kg-1·d-1 mosapride， and those in the high， middle， and low-dose Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang groups were given 12， 6， and 3 g·kg-1·d-1 Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang， respectively. The intervention lasted 14 days. The general living conditions of rats were observed before and after modeling and administration， and the 3-hour food intake and body mass of rats were measured. After intervention， the intestinal propulsion rate of rats was measured， and the pathological changes in the gastric tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The content of choline acetyl transferase （ChAT） and vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue homogenate was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， the distribution of adenosine triphosphate （ATP） enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle was observed by frozen section staining， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and phosphorylated-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 （p-MYPT1） in the gastric tissue were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group had withered hair， lazy movement， slow action， poor general living condition， lower 3-hour food intake， body mass， and lower intestinal propulsion rate （P<0.05）， whereas no obvious abnormality in gastric histopathology. In the model group， the content of ChAT in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue decreased， the content of VIP in gastric tissue increased， the distribution of ATP enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle decreased significantly， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and p-MYPT1 in the gastric tissue decreased significantly （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the general living condition of rats in each intervention group was significantly improved， and the 3-hour food intake， body mass， and intestinal propulsion rate were significantly increased （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in gastric pathology in the intervention groups. The content of ChAT in the medulla oblongata and gastric tissue increased significantly， the content of VIP in the gastric tissue decreased， the distribution of ATP enzyme in gastric antrum smooth muscle increased significantly， and the protein expression levels of RhoA， ROCK2， and p-MYPT1 in the gastric tissue increased significantly （P<0.05）. The intervention effect of Xiangsha Liujunzi Tang group on the above indexes was dose-dependent. ConclusionXiangsha Liujunzi Tang can effectively improve the general living condition and gastric motility of rats with FD， and its specific mechanism may be related to the activation of the RhoA/ROCK2/MYPT1 pathway in the gastric tissue to regulate smooth muscle relaxation and contraction and promote gastric motility.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the mechanism of Guiqiyiyuan Ointment (GO) for preventing and treating 12C6+ beam radiation induced lung and kidney bystander effect to provide a new strategy for prevention and treatment of clinical radiation injury. Methods Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups: NC group, SR group (simple radiation 2ml/kg), GO group(GO 2ml/kg intragastric administration for 7 days). The right side of the lung was modeled by 12C6+beam radiation. After modeling, the rats were killed at 48h. The left lung, left and right kidney tissues were taken from the rats. The DNA methylation rate was detected by ELISA assay, pathological changes were observed by HE staining, and the expressions of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the NC group, the level of DNA methylation was decreased significantly (P<0.01), the left lung showed inflammation, no abnormal finding was seen in the left and right kidneys, and the expressions of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b were significantly increased in the SR group (P<0.01). Compared with the SR group, the level of DNA methylation was increased significantly (P<0.01), the left lung inflammation became better, and the expressions of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b were significantly decreased in the GO group (P<0.01). Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b proteins were expressed in the cytoplasms of bronchial and renal tubular epithelial cells in all the groups. The NC group presented as light brown-brown staining, showing a weak positive expression, the SR group as brown-brown staining, showing astrong positive expression, and the GO group as light brown-brown staining, showing a moderate positive expression. Conclusion The GO can reduce the bystander effect caused by 12C6+ beam radiation, and its mechanism is related to improving the level of DNA methylation.
ABSTRACT
Molecular immunologic technique gets quick development in recent years, especially the fast development of the immuno-labelling technique, which found its indispensable status in the study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the development of the study of TCM, medical immunology connecting TCM with the Western medicine has become one of the most indispensable conjunctive subjects. Scientists can study the theories and prevention or treatment mechanisms of TCM not only at holistic and cell levels, but also at molecular and gene levels. Appropriate application of the molecular immunologic techniques according to their characteristics will play an important role in the study of Chinese integrative medicine.
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AIM: To study effects of Fuyuanbunao Granules (Radix Ginseng Rubra, Fructus Crataegi, Radix Astragali, Herba Epimedii, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma Alismatis, Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii) on ATPase activities, MDA level in mouse brain, SOD activities in mouse blood and the quotient of brain. METHODS: On the mouse model of Alzheimer' disease toxified with AlCl 3, the effects of Fuyuanbunao Granules on Na + K + ATPase, Mg 2+ ATPase activities and MDA level in mouse brain, SOD activities in mouse blood were evaluated with spectroscopic analysis, and the weight of brain was measured with analytical balance. RESULTS: Compared with Alzheimer'disease model team, Fuyuanbunao Granules enhance the activities of Na +、K + ATPase, Mg 2+ ATPase, decease MDA level in the mouse brain and enhance the activities of SOD in blood. It also increases the weight of brain. CONCLUSION: It indicates that enhancing the activity of ATPase and deceasing peroxide level may be one of the mechanism for Fuyuanbunao Granules to prevent and cure Alzheimer' disease.