Chondroprotective Mechanism of Tongbi Compound on Adjuvant Arthritis Rats / 广州中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the chondroprotective mechanism of Tongbi Compound(TC) on adjuvant arthritis(AA) rats.Methods Wistar rats were randomized into the normal group,model group,indomethacin group(2.6 mg?kg-1?d-1),sulfasalazine group(825 mg?kg-1?d-1) and TC group(30 g?kg-1?d-1).Except the normal group,the rats in other groups were given pedal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant(FCA,0.2mg for each rat)to induce AA.After gastric gavage of corresponding medicine for 2 weeks,the pathological changes of the cartilage in the rat ankles and their scores were observed,and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 3(MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase(TIMP-3) in rat cartilage was detected by immunohistochemical method.Results In the model group,pathological score was increased(P0.05),but had less toxic and side effects.Conclusion The therapeutic mechanism of Tongbi Compound for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis is probably related with the regulation of the balance between MMP-3 and TIMP-3.