Effects of Tianmagouteng particles on brain cognitive function in spontaneously hypertensive rats with hyperactivity of liver-yang: A [F-18] FDG micro-PET imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: To collect visualized proof of Tianmagouteng particles (TMGTP) in alleviating cognitive dysfunction and to explore its effects on brain activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) with hyperactivity of liver-yang (Gan Yang Shang Kang, GYSK). METHODS: Sixteen SHRs were randomized into treatment group and non-treatment. The SHR with GYSK was induced by gavaging aconite decoction (10mL/kg at 0.2g/mL). After the SHR models were prepared, the rats in the treatment group were administered TMGTP (10mL/kg) once a day for 14days.The rats in the non-treatment group or normal rats (control group) received an equivalent volume of saline. Morris water maze test was conducted before and after the treatment to observe cognitive function. Fluorine 18-deoxy glucose [F-18]FDG micro-PET brain imaging scans was performed after treatment. Data were analyzed with two-sample t-test (P<0. 001) using SPM2 image analysis software. RESULTS: Compared with the non-treatment group, the escape latency significantly decreased but the frequency of entrance into the target zone significantly increased in the treatment group. Consistent with the alteration of cognitive functions, TMGTP induced strong brain activity in the following sites: right dorsolateral nucleus and ventrolateral nucleus of thalamus, amygdala, left met thalamus, cerebellum leaflets, original crack, front cone crack, loop-shaped leaflets; but deactivation of right medial frontal gyrus, bilateral corpus callosum, hippocampus, and left dentate gyrus. CONCLUSION: TMGTP could alleviate cognitive dysfunction in SHRs with GYSK, which was possibly by inducing alteration of glucose metabolism in different brain regions with corresponding functions.

Beneficial Effects of Qili Qiangxin Capsule on Lung Structural Remodeling in Ischemic Heart Failure via TGF-ß1/Smad3 Pathway.

Qili qiangxin (QL) capsule is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of all etiologies, although the exact mechanisms of action remain unclear. CHF leads to pulmonary vascular remodelling and thickening of the alveolar-capillary barrier that may be important mechanisms in the poor clinical outcome in patients with end-stage heart failure. We examined whether QL could improve lung injury in ischemic CHF by reducing lung remodeling. Rats with myocardial infarct received QL (1.0 g/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Echocardiographic and morphometric measurements were obtained followed by echocardiography, histological staining, and immunohistochemical analysis of lung sections. CHF caused significant lung structural remodeling evidenced by collagen deposition and thickening of the alveolar septa after myocardial infarct that were greatly improved by QL. Lung weight increased after infarct with no evidence of pulmonary edema and was normalized by QL. QL also reduced lung transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), p-Smad3, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) expression. Thus, QL reduces lung remodeling associated with CHF, mainly by suppressing the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway. The mechanism may also involve inhibition of TLR4 intracellular signaling.