Regulating Effects of Emodin on the Expression of Aquaporin-3 in Tongue Tissues of Rats with Experimental Severe Acute Pancreatitis / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3) in tongue tissues of rats with experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and regulating effects of emodin. Methods Rat models with SAP were established by injecting 5% sodium taurocholate retrogradely into gallbladder and pancreas. SD male rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, and emodin group. After model establishment, rats in the emodin group received gavage with emodin 20 mg/kg each day, while rats in the model group and sham-operation group received gavage with normal saline. The mental state, thick greasy tongue fur and mortality of rats were observed every day after model establishment, and 5 days later, protein and genetic expression of AQP3 were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results Compared with the model group, the mortality and the thick greasy tongue fur significantly decreased, the protein and genetic expression of AQP3 significantly decreased in the emodin group (P<0.05). On the 5th day, 11 rats in the model group survived, and 5 rats had thick greasy tongue fur. Compared with the sham-operation group, the protein and genetic expression of AQP3 in the model group were higher (P<0.05). Conclusion Emodin can improve the severity of SAP and decrease the incidence of thick greasy tongue fur significantly by reducing the protein and genetic expression of AQP3.