ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of Tongluo Tangtai Recipe(TTR)on inflammatory cytokines in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN). Methods Rat model of spontaneous DPN was established by feeding high fat diet. The rats were divided into 5 groups , namely model group , western medicine(metformin 100 mg·kg-1·d-1+ methycobal 0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1) group, and low-, middle- and high-dose TTR groups (TTR in the dosage of 0.72, 1.44, 2.88 g·kg-1·d-1 respectively). Rats of the normal group and model group were treated with normal saline orally, and the medication groups were given the corresponding medicine according to the experimental design. After intragastric administration for 4 weeks, sciatic motor/sensory nerve conduction velocity was detected with electrophysiological examination method, and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), C-reactive protein(CRP), myelin basic protein(MBP) levels in the serum were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results TTR in various dosages could reduce the serum levels of MBP and inflammatory cytokines of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP, and increase sciatic nerve conduction velocity (P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with those in the model group), the high dose showing the strongest effect. Conclusion TTR could inhibit inflammation reaction and nerve demyelination, and improve nerve structure and conduction function, which may contribute to the preventive and therapeutic mechanism of TTR for DPN.