Effect of modified sijunzi decoction on the bone metabolism of adriamycin induced nephropathy rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Modified Sijunzi Decoction (MSD) on the bone metabolism of prednisone intervened adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model was prepared. Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divide into five groups, i.e., the model group, the hormone group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, the CM + hormone group, and the normal control group. The 24-h urine samples were collected on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day after modeling. The 24-h urine protein was measured by biuret colorimetry. Serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), osteocalcin (BGP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) were determined by ELISA. Expressions of OPG and RANKL in the tibia tissue were detected using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with the normal control group, the 24-h urine protein increased in each group on the 7th, 21st, and 35th day (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the 24-h urinary protein decreased in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The decrement was more obvious along with the treatment time went by (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the reduction of urine protein on the 35th day between the CM group and the model group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the 21st-day of the same group, the serum levels of TRACP and RANKL increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of the TRACP and RANKL increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), OPG and BGP decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the hormone group. Compared with the CM group at the same period, serum OPG level decreased and the RANKL level increased in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, the serum level of TRACP increased and BGP decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the hormone group at the same period, OPG and BGP increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), RANKL decreased (P < 0.01) in the CM + hormone group. On the 35th day TRACP decreased (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with the normal group, mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL on the 21st day increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL on the 35th day decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CM group at the same period, OPG mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.01) and RANKL mRNA expression increased in the hormone group (P < 0.05). OPG mRNA expression decreased in the CM +hormone group (P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the hormone group on the 21st day, the OPG level decreased and the RANKL protein increased (both P < 0.05). RANKL decreased in the CM + hormone group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group at the same period, OPG decreased and RANKL increased in the hormone group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CM group at the same period, OPG decreased (P < 0.01), RANKL increased (P < 0.01) in the hormone group and the CM + hormone group. Compared with the hormone group at the same period, OPG increased and RANKL decreased in the CM + hormone group (both P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Prednisone could induce osteoporosis through the OPG/RANKL/RANK pathway. MSZ could slow down the formation of prednisone-induced osteoporosis through promoting osteoblast differentiation, and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.</p>

Effect of androgen on penile erection induced by L-arginine in paraventricular nucleus / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the relationship between penile erection induced by L-arginine in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and androgen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four mature male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups which were castrate, castrate with testosterone propionate (T) replacement and pseudo-operation. One month later, the highest intracavernous pressure (ICP) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) of each PVN tissue were measured after infusing L-arginine into the PVN.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean ICPs of the highest values in castrate, castrate given T replacement and pseudo-operation groups were (22.640 +/- 4.747) mmHg, (38.146 +/- 4.907) mmHg and (39.991 +/- 3.068) mmHg, respectively. The mean value of NOS activity of each group were (0.807 +/- 0.188) U/mg.prot, (1.457 +/- 0.293) U/mg.prot and (1.528 +/- 0.204) U/mg.prot, respectively. The ICP and NOS activity in castrate were different statistically from T replacement and pseudo-operation group (both P < 0.01). T replacement group had no statistical difference from pseudo-operation group(P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the neurotransmitters in PVN particularly relevant for the control of penile erection. Penile erection induced by L-arginine in PVN depends on androgen.</p>