The expression of TLR4 in rat acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide and the influence of Eucalyptus globulus oil / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the distribution of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rats' respiratory tract. To study the influence of LPS and Eucalyptus globulus oil on the distribution of TMR4.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharide (LPS,2 mg x kg(-1) per day) for two days to induce acute lung injury. The rats were sacrificed at 72 hours after LPS instillation. Lung morphology was studied. Leukocytes in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured and TLR4 were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The result of immunohistochemistry showed that TLR4 distributed widely in common rats' respiratory tract. In the group of acute lung injury, the number of leucocyte in BALF was increased apparently, the inflammation in bronchus and bronchioles was more apparently than that of the control group in morphology. And the expression of TLR4 was reinforced in main bronchus and bronchioles. In the group of E. globules oil (300 mg x kg(-1)), the leucocyte number was decreased apparently in BALF, the inflammation was lightened and the expression of TLR4 decreased as compared with the group of models.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of TLR4 distributes widely in rats' respiratory tract. The stimulation of LPS can reinforce the expression of TLR4. The E. globules oil can reduce the increase of TLR4 induced by LPS in bronchioles.</p>

Effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil on lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic bronchitis and mucin hypersecretion in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil on bronchiolitis and mucin hypersecretion in chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide 0.2 mg. Pathological changes, alteration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunohistochemistry characters were examined after 3 weeks and the effect of E. globulus oil was observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Characters of pathological manifestations of chronic bronchitis were found after instillation of LPS. Inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchiolitis severity were significantly reduced after administration of E. globulus oil. Especially in 300 mg x kg(-1) treated rats, there were significant decreases of mucin content in BALF and MUC5ac expression in trachea and bronchiole epithelium. Optical density and mucins area% detected by image analysis system were apparently lower than those in model group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E. globulus oil has the anti-inflammatory effect on chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats and the inhibitio effect on hypersecretion of airway mucins.</p>

Increase of LTB4 level and expression of LTA4-hydrolase mRNA in lung tissue and cerebral cortex in asthmatic rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate antigen-induced changes of leukotriene B(4)(LTB(4))content and LTA(4)-hydrolase mRNA expression in lung tissue and cerebral cortex in sensitized rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The contents of LTB(4) in lung tissue and cerebral cortex homogenates and LTA(4)-hydrolase mRNA expression after antigen challenge by aerosol were respectively detected by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC) and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The LTB(4) levels in lung tissue and cerebral cortex homogenates in asthmatic rats were significantly higher than those in control (P%0.05), and LTA4-hydrolase mRNA expression was also increased in asthmatic group. Dexamethason(DXM, 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased the LTB(4) content and inhibited the LTA(4)-hydrolase mRNA expression significantly in asthmatic rats(P%0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LTB(4) content and LTA(4)-hydrolase mRNA expression in cerebral cortex and lung tissue are increased in asthmatic rats, and there may exist neuroimmunological cross-talking between central nervous system and lung tissue in asthma.</p>

Comparison of RR-formoterol with rac-formoterol in bronchodilating effect on human bronchus / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the bronchodilating effect of RR-formoterol (RR-FMT) with that of racemic formoterol (rac-FMT) on human bronchus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human bronchial spiral strips (2 - 4 mm internal diameter,15 mm length) were suspended in tissue baths under resting tension of 1.0 g. The changes of tension induced by RR-FMT and rac-FMT(10 pmol x L(-1) - 3.2 micromol x L(-1)) in a cumulative concentration manner were studied under resting tension conditions or precontraction with carbamylcholine (10 micromol x L(-1)) or histamine(100 micromol x L(-1)) in human bronchus.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT was more potent than that of rac-FMT under resting condition(P<0.05). RR-FMT and rac-FMT reversed histamine or carbamylcholine-induced contraction, and the bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT was more potent than that of rac-FMT (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The bronchodilating effect of RR-FMT is more potent than that of rac-FMT in both the resting condition and carbamylcholine or histamine-induced contraction in human bronchus in vitro.</p>

Effect of eucalyptus globulus oil on activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in THP-1 cells / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of eucalyptus globulus oil on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-kappaB) in THP-1 cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>THP-1 cells were cultured with or without eucalyptus globulus oil at different concentrations (1, 10, 100 mg x L(-1), 30 min) before being stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg x L(-1), 30 min). The location of NF-kappaB p65 subunit (NF-kappaB/p65) in THP-1 cells was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of NF-kappaB/p65 in nuclei was measured by Western-blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The FITC-label NF-kappaB/p65 was mainly located in the nuclei after THP-1 cells were stimulated with LPS. Whereas, no fluorescence were seen in the nuclei of cells pretreated with eucalyptus globulus oil. This effect on NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear translocation was in a concentration dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Eucalyptus globulus oil inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB induced by LPS in THP-1 cells.</p>

Anti-tussive and expectorant effects of Liangyuan Pipagao,a Chinese medicine / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of Liangyuan Pipagao on cough reflex and ciliary action. Liangyuan Pipagao is a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Cough was induced by aerosol citric acid in guinea pigs and aerosol capsacin in mice. Excretion function of the airway in mice was determined by phenol red method. Ciliary movement function of frog esophagus was examined by a migration method of charcoal granules. RESULTS: Liangyuan Pipagao inhibited both the citric acid-induced cough in guinea pigs and capsacin-induced cough in mice. ID(50)value 2.64 g/kg (95%Cl1.12 approximately 6.19) and 11.40 g/kg (95%Cl5.76 approximately 22.58) respectively. Further, Liangyuan Pipagao increased phenol red excretion in mice airways and stimulated ciliary action of frog esophagusin a dose-dependent fashion. ED(50) value 7.70 g/kg (95%Cl 4.62 approximately 12.83) and EC(25) value 1.07 X 10(-4) (95% Cl 0.394 approximately 2.92x10(-4)) respectively. CONCLUSION: Liangyuan Pipagao a traditional Chinese medicine may have anti-tussive as well as expectorant actions.