Effects of Six Stagnations Elimination Therapy on Collagen Metabolism of Atherosclerotic Mice with Vulnerable Plaques / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of six stagnations elimination therapy on the content of typeⅠ, typeⅢ collagens and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in atherosclerotic mice with vulnerable plaques, to discuss the possible mechanisms of this therapy in stabilizing vulnerable plaques.Methods The ApoE knockout mice were fed on high-fat diets, which built the vulnerable plaques model. Five groups were established, including normal group, model group, high-dose group, low-dose group, and simvastatin group, with 10 mice in each group. Dose groups were given drug intervention, while normal group and model group were given in the same amount of saline. After 12 weeks of drug intervention, the mice were put to death. TypeⅠ and typeⅢcollagens were observed using picric acid-Sirius red staining method. The expression of MMP-9 was detected by immunohistochemical method.ResultsCompared with normal group, vulnerable plaques formed more easily in model group.Compared with model group, typeⅠ collagen increased in high-does and low-dose groups, while typeⅢ collagen, the ratio of typeⅢ andⅠ collagens, and the expression of MMP-9 decreased (P<0.01).ConclusionSix stagnations elimination therapy could stabilize vulnerable plaques. Regulating typeⅠ andⅢ collagens content and inhibiting the expression of MMP-9 may be one of its possible mechanisms.