ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of Yougui Yin on steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in rats and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and to explore its mechanism.Methods:Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, high-dose group (26.4 g/kg), medium-dose group (13.2 g/kg) and low-dose group (6.6 g/kg) of Yougui Yin, with 10 rats in each group. Except the normal group, the other groups were prepared with SANFH model by combining LPS and methylprednisolone injection. The treatment groups were intragastrically administered with Yougui Yin, once a day for 8 weeks. After the final administration, the serum calcium and phosphorus levels of rats in each group were determined by automatic biochemical analyzer. The femoral head specimens of rats in each group were detected by MRI, and the pathological changes of the femoral head were observed by HE staining. The expressions of caspase-3, β-catenin and Wnt3α mRNA in the femoral head of rats were detected by RT-PCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in the medium and high dose groups were increased significantly ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the level of serum phosphorus in the low dose group was increased significantly ( P<0.05); In the medium and high dose groups, the femoral empty bone lacuna rate was decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of caspase-3 mRNA (2.146±0.191, 1.688±0.247, 1.370±0.252 vs. 2.535±0.236) in the low, medium and high dose groups were decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of β-catenin mRNA (0.433±0.102, 0.496±0.091, 0.698±0.089 vs. 0.259±0.106) were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); The expression of Wnt3α mRNA (0.509±0.061, 0.833±0.053 vs. 0.384±0.052) in the medium and high dose groups were increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); In the medium and high dose groups, MRI showed higher T2 signals around the joint, and high T2 signals within the joint, which were clearly distinguished from the femoral head cartilage, and there was no obvious abnormal signal within the femoral head. HE staining in the Yougui Yin medium and high dose groups showed that trabecular bone was coarse and arranged regularly, most of the bone cells were normal, and empty bone lacunae were less. Conclusion:The protective effect of Yougui Yin on SANFH rats may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the changes of related proteins of neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation in rats treated with corticosterone (CORT). METHODS: Western blot method was used to investigate the changes of related protein of neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, related proteins (Notch1, hes5, Mash1 and NeuroD) of neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation were significantly decreased in the CORT rats on the day 30 and 60, especially for Mash1 and NeuroD (P