[Effect of combination of insulin and selenium on insulin signal transduction in cardiac muscle of STZ-induced diabetic rats].

This study is to investigate the effect of low doses of insulin (1 u x kg(-1)) and selenium (180 microg x kg(-1)) in combination on general physiological parameters and insulin signal molecules in cardiac muscle of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The levels of blood glucose were estimated using One Touch SureStep Blood Glucose meter. HbA1c levels were estimated using microcolumn assay. TG and TC were estimated using enzymatic assay. The levels of PI3K and GLUT4 in cardiac muscle were examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The result showed that insulin in combination with selenium could significantly lower blood glucose and blood lipid levels and markedly restored the PI3K and GLUT4 levels in cardiac muscle. It could be concluded that there was cooperation between insulin and selenium, and that treatment of diabetic rats with combined doses of insulin and selenium increased cardiac glucose uptake by upregulating the level of PI3K-mediated GLUT4 in cardiac muscle, eventually ameliorating myocardial dysfunction.

[Sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of compound gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of the compound preparation of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice and investigate the interaction of the two drugs in this preparation. METHODS: The compound preparation was administered intragastrically in mice, whose spontaneous activity was observed along with their tolerance of the preparation after long-term administration. The hypnotic effect of the compound was assessed by investigating the changes in the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping. The compound was tested for its antiseizure effect in mice with pentetrazole-induced clonic and tonic convulsion. Diazepam was used as the standard control in all experiments. RESULTS: The jujube seed oil, the gardenia oil and their compound all inhibited spontaneous activities of the mice. Compared with diazepam, the compound showed slow action in producing the sedative effect, which increased gradually with prolonged drug administration without obvious drug tolerance responses. The compound and the two oils all showed synergistic action with pentobarbital sodium in inducing sleeping of the mice. Prescription study showed that the compound produced stronger sedative and hypnotic effects than either of the oils. The two oils and the compound did not show significant antiseizure effects in mice. CONCLUSION: The compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil has sedative and hypnotic effects in mice, and the two oils in the compound show obvious synergistic effect.

Tanshinone IIA downregulates the CD40 expression and decreases MMP-2 activity on atherosclerosis induced by high fatty diet in rabbit.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a member of the major lipophilic components abstracted from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and has the capacity of anti-atherosclerosis. To investigate the potential mechanism, we established an animal model by giving high fatty diet to rabbits and Tan IIA was given in different dose. Then, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in serum were detected using spectrophotometry; cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40) expression of cellular membrane fraction of aortas and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity of total protein extract of aortas were detected by Western Blotting and Zymography, respectively. Compared with the control group, the level of MDA, the expression of CD40 and the MMP-2 activity were increased while the SOD activity was decreased significantly in model group. After Tan IIA administration, the SOD activity was significantly increased while the level of MDA was decreased; both the expression of CD40 and the activity of MMP-2 were decreased. It is suggested that Tan IIA not only inhibits the oxidation but also suppresses the inflammation in atherosclerotic lesion. Our data suggest that not only anti-oxidation but also anti-inflammation by decrease the expression of CD40 and MMP-2 activity maybe the potential mechanisms by which Tan IIA anti-atherosclerosis.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits atherosclerotic plaque formation by down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is one of the major lipophilic components of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) and has an anti-atherosclerotic effect. To investigate the potential mechanism of this effect, we established an atherosclerotic animal model by feeding rabbits a high-fat diet, and Tan IIA was given at different doses. Intimal area of the aorta was measured by image analysis, serum levels of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and interleukin (IL-1beta) were measured by ELISA, while matrix metalloproteinase-2 and-9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) expression and their activities in atherosclerotic lesions were assessed by Western blotting and zymography respectively. Compared with the control group, the intimal area, serum levels of VCAM-1 and IL-1beta, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as their activities were increased significantly in the high-fat fed rabbit group. After Tan IIA administration, all of these parameters were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Our results show that Tan IIA can inhibit atherosclerotic lesion formation in aorta and down-regulate protein expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as well as serum VCAM-1 and IL-1beta in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.

[Experimental study on the effect of tiangui gengnian capsule on the aged female rats ostepoprosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic action of Seabuckthorn Fatty Acid on the aged female rats osteoporosis, and explore the corresponding mechanism related in hormone and cytokine. METHODS: The change of bone density (BMD), biomechanics and bone morphology were measured and E2, TGF-beta1, IGF-1 level in plasma were determined respectively for the young female rats, aged female rats (Seabuckthorn Fatty Acid 0.72, 1.8, 4.5 g/kg, E2 0.02 g/kg) after they were administrated corresponding drugs for 45 days. RESULTS: The bone density (BMD), bone biomechanics, bone morphology for female rats aged 22-months all decreased. The BMD, bone biomechanics, the number of bone trabeculas and cortical thickness in Seabuckthorn Fatty Acid treated groups (1.8 g/kg, 4.5 g/kg) were upgraded (P < 0.05). The TGF-beta1, IGF-1 level in plasma were increased, too (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Seabuckthorn Fatty Acid can meliorate bone metabolism in post-menopause and heighten the bone density. The adjustment mechanism may be based on the function of estrogen and cell cytokine.

[Experimental study on effect of tiangui gengnian soft capsule on aged female rats with osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Tiangui Gengnian soft capsule (TGC), which mainly consists of seabuckthorn fatty acid, on serum estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) in multiple target tissues as uterus, liver and bone, in aged female rats, in order to explore its mechanism from the aspects of receptor and cytokines. METHODS: Low (0.72 g/kg), middle (1.80 g/kg) and high (4.50 g/kg) dose of TGC were administered by gastrogavage to young and aged (22 months old) female rats with osteoporosis for 45 days, and diethylstilbestrol (0.02 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. The levels of serum estradiol (E2), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by radioimmunoassay and ELISA method, the protein expression of their receptor in bone, uterus and liver was detected by SABC immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expression of E2 in uterus and liver detected by in situ hybridization with digoxin probe. RESULTS: Intervention of TGC could cause increase of serum E2, IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 levels, the TGF-beta1 reached 90.63 +/- 18.71 pg/L in the group administered with high dose, which was significantly different to that in the aged group (P < 0.01). There was no obvious effect of the mRNA expression of E2 in uterus and liver, and no effect of TGF-beta1 and IGF-1 in liver in rats. CONCLUSION: TGC could improve the postmenopausal bone metabolism, alleviate and correct the bone loss, it is possibly realized by way of side-secreting/auto-secreting of E2 receptor and cytokines (TGF-beta1 and IGF-1) to improve the osteogenesis and inhibit the destruction of bone.