ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Qindan capsule (QC) on collagen synthesis and the mechanism underlying the process in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twentyfour SHRs were divided into three groups: the hypertension model group, the QC treatment group, and the losartan treatment group. Eight Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normal control group. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the rats was monitored, and the thoracic aorta adventitia of the rats was segregated. The expressions of transforming growth factor 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and collagens I and were measured by histological staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The SBP was significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.01). However, a significant SBP-lowering effect was observed in QC or losartan treatment groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01) after 3 weeks of treatment. QC-treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 40 mm Hg, and the losartan-treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 50 mm Hg at the end of treatment compared with the beginning of treatment. The protein and gene levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, and collagens I and in the model group were significantly increased compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). However, the levels were significantly decreased in the QC or losartan treatment group compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the QC and losartan treatment groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>QC could exert its antihypertensive effect through down-regulating TGF-β1-stimulated collagen expressions. The TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be involved in this process.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Adventitia , Metabolism , Pathology , Blood Pressure , Blood Vessels , Metabolism , Pathology , Capsules , Collagen , Collagen Type I , Genetics , Metabolism , Collagen Type III , Genetics , Metabolism , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Losartan , Pharmacology , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Metabolism , Rats, Inbred SHR , Rats, Inbred WKY , Smad3 Protein , Genetics , Metabolism , Staining and Labeling , Systole , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on ovarian injury induced by chemotherapy in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight mice were randomized equally into normal control group (A), cyclophosphamide and BMT group (B), and cyclophosphamide group (C). The mice in groups B and C were treated with intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days, and allogeneic bone marrow cell transplantation was performed in group B. The ovary coefficient and the amount of follicles were compared to evaluate the function of ovaries. For cell tracking, the bone marrow cells were labeled with Hoechst 33342 and detected through fluorescence microscope after transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On days 21 and 50 after cyclophosphamide treatment, the ovary coefficient and the amount of follicles were significantly lowered in groups B and C (P<0.05), but the reduction was obviously ameliorated in group B (P<0.05). Cell tracking showed the presence of the donor bone marrow cells in the ovaries of the recipients mice after BMT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BMT can improve the ovarian function impaired by chemotherapy in mice.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Bone Marrow Transplantation , Cyclophosphamide , Ovary , PathologyABSTRACT
Aim The therapeutic effect of "shen-bing NQ 5", a preparation of traditional Chi-nese medicine on adenine-induced chronic nephritis in rats was studied. MethodsChronic nephritis in rats was induced by giving adenine 80 mg?kg-1?d-1 orally. Themodel rats were treated by "shen-bing No 5" in different dosages. Levels of urea ni-trogen(BUN), creatinine (Cr), total protein(TP), and Na+ in serum and or urine weredetected and the changes of kidney were obseraed. Results The "shen-bing No 5"markedly lowered the levels of urine protein in 24 hours, BUN in urine and BUN, Na+in serum (P