Therapeutic Efficacy of Quinapyramine Sulphate with Freund＇s Complete Adjuvant in Wistar Rats Infected with Trypanosoma Congolense

Therapeutic efficacy of QS （quinapyramine sulphate） and FCA （Freund＇s complete adjuvant） combination was studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of QS using FCA in Trypanosorna congolense infection. GrouPs treated with QS and FCA had parasite disappeared in peripheral circulation 2 days pi, relapse was observed one week later. Effect of treatment on rectal temperature shows no significance （p 〈 0.05）, normalization of rectal temperature occurred in QS and FCA treated groups （34.1℃） than untreated （42.8 ℃）, QS （37.4 ℃） and FCA （35.92 ℃） treated groups. Mean body weight was significant （p 〈 0.001） in QS and FCA, QS, and FCA groups. Packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration for untreated groups were lower, but increased in QS, FCA, QS and FCA treated groups, indicating anemia amelioration. White blood cell counted in untreated, QS and FCA treated groups showed no significance （p 〈 0.05）, however, there was leukocytosis due to lymphocytosis in QS and FCA treated group （6.79 × 10^3/μl） compared with untreated and other groups. There was comparative decrease in serum liver enzymes in QS and FCA treated group than other groups. Therefore, QS at lower recommended dose with FCA may enhance efficacy of QS in trypanosomiasis.

The petroleum ether fraction of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. seeds demonstrates antiarthritic effect in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Objective:Celastrus paniculatus(CP)Willd.is a plant indigenous to India with medicinal properties.It is used in the ayurvedic treatment of inflammatory ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis.The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the petroleum ether fraction(PCP)obtained from CP seeds on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.Methods:Arthritis was induced in SpragueeDawley rats by immunization with Freund’s complete adjuvant(FCA).Arthritis severity was evaluated by arthritis score,paw volume,tibiotarsal joint thickness,body weight,dorsal flexion pain,motility test,stair climbing ability and index of thymus and spleen.Moreover,histopathology of knee joints supported by haematological analysis was used to assess the anti-arthritic action of PCP.The levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),catalase(CAT),nitric oxide(NO)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in liver were also assessed.Serum samples were collected for estimation of aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine transaminase(ALT)and alkaline phosphatase(ALP).In addition,cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-a)and interleukin-6(IL-6)were estimated in plasma.Results:PCP significantly alleviated arthritic progression with regards to paw swelling,arthritic score,immune organ indices,hyperalgesic effect and body weight.This phenomenon was correlated with significant suppression of overproduction of inflammatory cytokines(TNFa and IL-6),oxidant stress markers(MDA and NO)and cellular enzyme(AST,ALT and ALP)levels versus arthritic rats without treatment.Moreover,PCP restored the decreased levels of SOD,CAT and GSH.Conclusion:Our results suggest that the anti-arthritic properties of PCP may be due to immunosuppressive effects,cytokine regulation,antioxidant effects and bone-protective activities.

EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON THE IMMUNOREACTIVITY OF FOCAL CUTANEOUS μ-OPIOID RECEPTOR IMMUNOREACTION-POSITIVE FIBERS IN ADJUVANT ARTHRITIC RATS

Objective：To study the effect of μ-opioid receptor （MOR） expression in the inflammatory skin tissue and the effect of electroacupuncture （EA） on the topical immunoreaction （IR） of MOR positive fibers in adjuvant arthritic （AA） rats. Methods： A total of 48 SD rats were randomized into control （n = 8）, model （n = 10）, focus-side-EA （n = 10）, non-acupoint-EA （n = 10）, and healthy-side-EA （ n = 10） groups. AA model was established by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund＇s adjuvant （CFA, 50 μL） into the left hind paw. EA （4-16 Hz, 0.5-1.5 V） was applied to “Huantiao” （环跳 GB 30） and“Yanglingquan” （阳陵泉 GB 34） on the focus or healthy side and non-acupoints for 30 min. Non-acupoints used were the two sites 5 mm to GB 30 and GB 34 on the healthy side. The topical MOR IR-positive fibers in the dermal and subcutaneous tissues of the focus was stained with immunohistochemical method. The severity of pain was detected by foot （anklejoint）-bending test. Results： Compared with model group, the “foot-bending test” score decreased significantly in focus-side-EA group on the 9^th and 11^th day （P〈 0.05） and in non-acupoint-EA group on the 8^th, 9^th and 11thd after injection of CFA （P 〈 0.05）, indicating that EA of bilateral GB 30 and GB 34 and non-acupoints all can relieve pain. From the 13^th day on, no significant differences were found in “foot-bending test” scores among the 3 EA groups and model group （P 〉0.05）. In comparison with control group, the area values of MOR IR-positive nerve fibers in the focus tissue were significantly higher in 3 EA groups （P 〈 0.05）. The area values of MOR IR-positive nerve fibers in the focus in model group and 3 EA groups were significant higher than that in control group （P〈 0.05）. Compared with model group, the area values of MOR IR-positive fibers in focus-side-EA group and healthy-side-EA group increased significantly （P 〈 0.05）; while those of MOR IR-positive fibers in non-acupoint-EA group and healthy-side-EA group were significantly lower than that in focus-side-EA group （ P 〈 0.05 ）, and no significant differences were found among model group, healthy-side-EA group and non-acupoint-EA group in the area of MOR IR-positive fibers （P 〉0.05）, indicating a stronger effect of EA of acupoints on the focus side. Conclusion： EA of GB 30 and GB 34 can relieve inflammatory pain and up-regulate the expression of MOR IR-positive fibers in the focal skin tissues in AA rats, exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Preparation and analysis of active rat model of rheumatoid arthritis with features of TCM toxic heat-stasis painful obstruction

Objective:To establish a collagen type II-induced rat model of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)presenting characteristics of the human form of the traditional Chinese syndrome pattern of toxic heat-stasis painful obstruction(bi zheng;arthromyodynia)as well as pathologic features of active RA.The Chinese herbal medicine Tengmei decoction was used to validate the animal model.Methods:Ninety specific pathogen free Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group of 6 rats and a model group of 84 rats.To establish the rat model of collageninduced arthritis(CIA),bovine type II collagen in complete Freund’s adjuvant was injected into the model group rats as a priming dose(Day 0)and boosting dose(Day 9).Changes in arthritic index(AI)scores,including limb swelling,were monitored.Thereafter,24 successfullyestablished CIA rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 6 animals each:model,positive control drug,high-dose traditional Chinese herbal medicine,and traditional Chinese herbal medicine.A blank control group of 6 rats was included.After 12 weeks of intervention with Tengmei decoction,articular synovial tissue and serum specimens were collected to detect interleukin-2(IL-2)and IL-17 transcription and protein expression levels.

Anti-arthritic effect of Distemonanthus benthamianus extracts against rheumatoid arthritis in rats

Objective:To evaluate the anti-arthritic effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Distemonanthus benthamianus.Methods:Monoarthritis was induced by an injection of 0.3 mL zymosan A(0.9%NaCl,v/v)in the right posterior knee joints of rats.Then,joint diameter and pain threshold were determined.Polyarthritis was induced by an intracaudal injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant and rats were treated from day 14 post 1st complete Freund’s adjuvant injection until 28 day.The clinical,hematological,biochemical and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated.In addition,histological analysis of the knee joint was perfomed in both tests.Results:The aqueous and methanolic extracts of Distemonanthus benthamianus at a dose of 500 mg/kg ameliorated zymosan A-induced monoarthritis,as evidenced by reduced joint diameter,increased pain threshold,as well as improved joint architecture.In addition,both extracts of Distemonanthus benthamianus markedly increased body weight and pain threshold,while reducing paw edema in polyarthritic rats.They also led to a marked decrease in platelets and white blood cells(P<0.05),as well as a significant increase in red blood cells,hemoglobin and hematocrit(P<0.05).The aqueous and methanolic extracts of Distemonanthus benthamianus significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase activities,while increasing serum protein levels(P<0.05)with no significant variation in creatinine level.Moreover,both extracts increased catalase and glutathione activities(P<0.05),and inhibited malondialdehyde and nitric oxide production(P<0.01 and P<0.001)in the liver and kidneys.Histological analysis of the joints showed that both extracts triggered tissue reparation.Conclusions:Distemonanthus benthamianus could be used as a potential candidate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Expression of COX-2 in the Dorsal Horn of Spinal Cord of Arthritic Rats

Objective： The present study was to observe the expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats with chronic inflammatory pain to investigate whether COX-2 is involved in the mechanism of electroacupuncture （EA） analgesia. Methods： After EA treatment, the pain score and expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of spinal cord in rats with complete Freund＇s adjuvant （CFA）-induced arthritis were measured by the behavioral test and immunohistochemistry technique, and compared with those of the normal group, model group and medicine group. Results： EA could decrease the pain score significantly and repeated EA treatments had the remarkable cumulative analgesic effect; and with the increase in EA treatments, the number of COX-2 immunoreactive cells was obviously decreased. Conclusion： EA at acupoints Yanglingquan （GB 34） and Kunlun （BL 60） had remarkable analgesic effect on adjuvant arthritis rats; and in the meantime, could inhibit the expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of spinal cord.