Effect of Bushen Zhuangdu Recipe on Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway in Degenerative Intervertebral Disc Cells in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the mechanism of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in rat degenerative intervertebral disc cells in improving intervertebral disc degeneration under the action of Bushen Zhuangdu recipe. Method:The 100 SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, low, medium and high dose Bushen Zhuangdu recipe group (0.38,0.77,1.53 g·kg-1).Histopathological changes of rat intervertebral discs were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining after 4 weeks of continuous administration of Chinese medicine. The apoptotic rate of nucleus pulposus cells in degenerative intervertebral discs was detected by TUNEL(terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling), and the levels of active Cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(active Caspase-3), B cell leukemia-2(Bcl-2), cytochrome C (cytC) and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) protein in intervertebral discs were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with blank group, the histopathological score of intervertebral disc in the model group was significantly increased, the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus was significantly increased (PPPPPPConclusion:Bushen Zhuangdu recipe may improve the degeneration of intervertebral disc by reducing the expression of active Caspase-3, cytC and Bax, increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and inhibiting the apoptotic pathway of mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner.