ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the effects of different Chinese materia medica combinations on the regulation of adrenal function. Methods Mice with 1.65 mg/(kg•d) hydrocortisone for 14 d to induce drug-induced syndrome was treated synchronously with assissting yang and dissipating cold (Aconm Lateralis Radix Praeparaia-Cinnamomi Cortex), nourishing yin and reducing fire (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma-Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex), tonifying qi and promoting fluid production (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix), and tonifying blood and benefiting spirit (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata-Corni Fructus). The body mass of mice was dynamically observed every day, and the characteristic information such as body mass, holding power, axillary temperature, activity degrees of open field, and infrared temperature were detected by the experimental methodology of mice syndrome differentiation; The mice were sacrificed whose spleen, thymus was weighed and the organ index was calculated. Serum corticosterone, ACTH, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were measured by ELISA. The gene expressions of Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp21a1, Cyp11b1, Cyp11b2, Dbh, Ddc, Pnmt, and Th in the adrenal were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The protein’s expressions of LDLR, SRB1, and StAR were detected by Western blotting. Results:The effects of four different treatments on the reduction of body weight and body temperature caused by hydrocortisone were not significant. The holding power of mice in Aconm Lateralis Radix Praeparaia-Cinnamomi Cortex group was significantly higher than that of hydrocortisone group (P < 0.05). Compared with the hydrocortisone group, the serum corticosterone content of mice in Anemarrhenae Rhizoma-Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex group increased significantly (P < 0.01); The genes expression of Star, Cyp11b1, and Cyp11b2 was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05, 0.01); The proteins expression of SRBI and StAR were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: The nourishing yin and purging fire treatment group (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma-Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex) is the best to correct and protect the adrenal cortex function in mice with hydrocortisone induced syndrome at low dose.