Beneficial effect of HHI-I on cerebral microcirculation, blood-brain barrier in rats and anti-hypoxic activity in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of HHI-I (I) on the cerebral microcirculation, the blood-brain barrier permeability in rats and anti-hypoxic activity in mice. METHODS: (1) The blood microcirculation of the brain in rats was investigated by laser Doppler flowmetry with the probes laid on the cerebral pia mater or inserted into the brain parenchyma. (2) The protective action of HHI-I against the brain microcirculation disturbance induced by intravenous injection of high-molecular dextran (10%, 9 mL/kg) was observed. (3) The protective effect of HHI-I against lethal hypoxia in mice was observed with a hypoxic chamber containing 5% oxygen. (4) The disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in rats was caused by phenylephrine-induced hypertension, and the effect of intravenous injection of HHI-I on the BBB permeability was determined using Evans blue as the marker. RESULTS: HHI-I could increase the blood flow of the cerebral microcirculation in rats and possess some protective effects on the brain microcirculatory disturbance. Besides, HHI-I could decrease the brain edema occurring in the process of lethal hypoxia in mice. While increasing the blood flow of brain, HHI-I could lower the BBB permeability in rats. CONCLUSION: HHI-I has several beneficial effects on the cerebral microcirculation, blood-brain barrier in rats and anti-hypoxic activity in mice.

Protective effect of YHI and HHI-I against experimental acute pancreatitis in rabbits.

AIM:To observe the protective effect of combined i.v. administraction of Yuanhu injection (YHI) and Huoxuehuayu injection-I (HHI-I) against acute pancreatitis (AP) in rabbits.METHODS:Sever acute pancreatitis (SAP) was induced by retrograde infusion of artificial bile juice into biliary-pancreatic duct, and treated with YHI and HHI-I intravenously. The protective effect was judged by the survival time and rate, serum amylase, serum interleukin-6, pancreatic microcirculation and pathological alteration.RESULTS:Combined use of YHI and HHI-I could markedly increase the rabbits' 5-day survival rate after AP (83.3% in the treatment group and 33.3% in control). The serum amylase value (x-± s) decreased to 1596.6U/L± 760.50U/L in the 5th day from the high level (6320.83U/L± 2614.12U/L) in the 1st day after AP in the treatment group, while in the control group the amylase activity in the 5th day was 2095.0U/L± 1081.87U/L, being significantly different from that before AP (837.17U/L± 189.12U/L). YHI and HHI-I also obviously improved the pancreatic microcirculation and lowered the serum interleukin-6 level, one of the indices of severe pancreatitis. Pathological examination indicated all the changes typical for AP in YHI and HHI-I treatment group were milder than those in the control.CONCLUSION:YHI and HHI-I used in combination might have protective effect against acute pancreatitis in rabbits.