Influences of AMY1 gene copy number and protein expression on salivary alpha-amylase activity before and after citric acid stimulation in splenic asthenia children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the correlations between salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity and amylase, alpha 1 (salivary) gene (AMYl) copy number or its gene expression between splenic asthenia and healthy children, and investigate the reasons of attenuated sAA activity ratio before and after citric acid stimulation in splenic asthenia children. METHODS: Saliva samples from 20 splenic asthenia children and 29 healthy children were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. AMYl copy number, sAA activity, and total sAA and glycosylated sAA contents were determined, and their correlations were analyzed. RESULTS: Although splenic asthenia and healthy children had no differences in AMY1 copy number, splenic asthenia children had positive correlations between AMY1 copy number and sAA activity before or after citric acid stimulation. Splenic asthenia children had a higher sAA glycosylated proportion ratio and glycosylated sAA content ratio, while their total sAA content ratio and sAA activity ratio were lower compared with healthy children. The glycosylated sAA content ratio was higher than the total sAA content ratio in both groups. Splenic asthenia and healthy children had positive correlations between total sAA or glycosylated sAA content and sAA activity. However, the role played by glycosylated sAA content in sAA activity in healthy children increased after citric acid stimulation, while it decreased in splenic asthenia children. CONCLUSION: Genetic factors like AMY1 copy number variations, and more importantly, sAA glycosylation abnormalities leading to attenuated sAA activity after citric acid stimulation, which were the main reasons of the attenuated sAA activity ratio in splenic asthenia children compared with healthy children.

[Effect of euodiae fructus on hepatic energy metabolism-related mechanisms of reserpine-induced asthenia cold syndrome rats].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of Euodiae Fructus on hepatic energy metabolism-related mechanisms of mitochondria of hepatic tissues of asthenia cold syndrome rats. METHOD: Rats were subcutaneously injected with Reserpine to establish the model. After the oral administration with Euodiae Fructus for 12 d, the oxygen electrode method was adopted to determine the respiration efficiency. The expressions of Cox4, Atp5b, Ucp2,Pgc-1alpha, Nrf1, Tfam mRNA were assayed by using RT-PCR method. RESULT: Euodiae Fructus 4.2 g x kg(-1) could obviously increase ST3 and RCR of asthenia cold syndrome rats, and expressions of Cox4, Ucp2 Nrf1 mRNA. It could also increase expressions of Atp5b and Pgc-1alpha mRNA, but with no statistical significance. No obvious change was observed in Tfam mRNA expression. Euodiae Fructus 4.2 g x kg(-1) could significantly increase ST3 and RCR of asthenia cold syndrome rats and Pgc-1alpha mRNA and Nrf1 mRNA expressions, and significantly decrease P/O, with no obvious impact on Cox4, AtpSb, Ucp2, Tfam mRNA expressions. CONCLUSION: Euodiae Fructus can promote mitochondrial respiratory function and oxidative phosphorylation efficiency by improving Pgc-1alpha mRNA and Nrf1 mRNA expressions and regulating Cox4 and Atp5b mRNA in mitochondrial respiratory chain. It can also strengthen mitochondrial uncoupling respiration and add heat production by activating Ucp2 mRNA expression in liver.

[Influence of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on asthenia cold syndrome rats with whole genome gene expression of liver by gene chip technique].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on asthenia cold syndrome rats with whole genome gene expression of liver by gene chip technique. METHOD: The asthenia cold syndrome rat models were established by administering traditional Chinese medicine raw Gypsum Fibrosum, Gentianae Radix, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma. After treated with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, the rats' liver gene expressions were detected using gene chip. Differential expression genes were screened for gene function annotation, and some genes were selected to check the accuracy of the results by RT-PCR. RESULT: Compared with the asthenia cold model group, the asthenia cold treatment group showed 212 differential expression genes, mainly involving function of immune response and oxidoreductase activity. CONCLUSION: Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata is proved to have an effect on up-regulating immune response-related genes and oxidizing oxidoreductase activity-related genes of asthenia cold syndrome rats and may be a molecular mechanism for classical warm-nature medicine Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in warming meridians and dissipating cold.

[Gene chip study on cerebral gene of effect of Jinkui Shenqiwan and Youguiwan on mouse model of kidney-yang asthenia with syndrome disproved according to therapeutic efficacy of drugs used].

OBJECTIVE: To inquire into the cerebral gene change of effect of Jingui Shenqiwan and Youguiwan for animal model of kidney-yang asthenia caused by excessive physical and sexual activities, which may study the effect mechanism of the medicine with syndrome disproved therapeutic efficacy of drugs used. METHOD: Male mice of Kunming species, weight 35-40 g, and female weight 28-35 g were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group and treatment groups of Jigui Shenqiwan and Youguiwan in which there were ten male mice, fifteen ones, ten ones and ten ones, respectively. All of them were fed normally, and poured into their stomach with 0.5 mL of distill water for each mouse in the control group and model group, and with 0.5 mL suspension of the drugs (including 1.1 g x kg(-1) drug) for each one in the treatment groups every day. The mice in the model group and treatment groups were kept by means of each male mouse with six female mice in the same cage, and all male mice swam until they gradully submerged and were scooped up from water once everyday for lasting four weeks to induce the kidney-yang asthenia with excessive physical and sexual activities. Animals' manifestation such as fearing cold, activity and responses, mouse' fur and so on were observed. The brain gene were detected with the mouse brain gene chip of 36K Mouse genome array made by Capital Bio Corp. Beijing, China, and the differential expression gene were screened according to the ratio equal to or above 2 and equal to or below 0.5 with the related fluorescent intensity comparing the two groups, which could be further verified in the light of partly differential expression gene with qRT-PCR. RESULT: The mouse model of kidney-yang asthenia in the model group was successfully induced by way of excessive physical and sexual activities. There were twenty-three genes among up-regulated genes in the model group versus control group but down-regulated genes in the treatment groups versus model group, chiefly including the genes association with inflammation/immunization, neurotransmissions/ signal transduction and so on. There were six genes among the down-regulated genes in the model group versus control group but upregulated in the treatment groups versus model group, mainly involving the related genes of cellular cycle and structure, neurotransmissions/signal transduction, transcription and et al. CONCLUSION: Jigui Shenqiwan and Youguiwan may make it markedly up-regulated to notably down-regulated genes of hormone and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) for model of mouse of kidney-yang asthenia, and promote cellular proliferation, which can inquire into effect mechanism of the drug in genetic level at the same time.