ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)combined with Huaiqihuang on hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) in rats. Methods Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups according to the random number table method:normal control group (group A), prednisone group (group B), Huaiqihuang group (group C), ACTH group (group D) and combined treatment group (group E) with 10 rats in each group. Rats in group B, C, D and E were gavaged by acetic acid prednisone water solution 12.5 mg/(kg · d) for 4 weeks to establish HPA axis suppression model. Group A was given distilled water 10 mL/(kg·d) as control. Rats in group C and E were gavaged with Huaiqihuang 5 g/(kg·d) 30 minutes after intragastric administration of prednisone acetate. At the third week of the experiment, group D and E were subcutaneous injected with ACTH 200 μg/(kg·d). The serum cortisol levels were measured respectively at the start of the ex?periment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks of experiment. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, and then weights of the pituitary, adrenal glands and the viscera index were calculated. The pathological changes of the pituitary and adrenal glands were observed by HE stainning. Results After 2 weeks, the serum cortisol levels were significantly lower in group B, C, D and E than those of group A (Pgroup D>group C (P<0.05). At the same time, the weights of pituitary and adrenal gland and the viscera in?dex were higher in the three groups than those of B group (P<0.05). The HE staining showed that there were no significant changes in the distal part of the pituitary gland in five groups. The adrenal cortex zona was thinning and the structure was dis?ordered in group B. There were different degrees of hyperplasia in group C, group D, and group E, which was the most obvi?ous in group E. Conclusion ACTH combined with Huaiqihuang can promote adrenal cortex zona hyperplasia and cortisol secretion, which reduces the glucocorticoid induced inhibition of HPA axis in rats.