Influence of Replenishing Kidney Herbs on Osteoporosis Induced by Dexamethasone and Retinoic Acid in Rats

Objective: To explorate the influence of replenishing Kidney herbs on dexamethasone (DXM) or retinoic acid (RA) induced osteoporosis in rats.Methods: Model animal of osteoporosis was made by DXM injection or RA through gastrogavage, and some animals received replenishing Kidney herbs during modelling. Changes of serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), estrogen (E), prostaglandin E2(PGE2), 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(VD3), uric hydroxyproline (UHP), intestinal calcium absorption, bone ash weight, bone density, bone histopathology as well as the change of intestinal calcium absorption vector-Ca-binding protein D9K (CaBp-D9K) gene and its mRNA expression were examined and compared.Results: DXM or RA could markedly induce bone metabolism disorder, showed as morphologic and histologic changes of bone, in DXM group, decrease of E2, VD3, bone density, bone ash weight, intestinal calcium absorption, increase of PGE2, and in RA group, decrease of serum E2, calcium, phosphate, ALP, UHP, bone density, bone ash weight, and intestinal calcium absorption. These changes could be reduced significantly when rats received replenishing Kidney herbs during modelling, and approached to normal.Conclusion: Osteoporosis induced by long-term application of DXM and low calcium diet feeding is a good animal model for experimental research. Replenishing Kidney herbs could significantly improve bone metabolism disorder induced by DXM or RA

Preventive Administration of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊) for Knee Osteoarthritis: Effects on Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and Cartilage Repair

Objective: To explore the mechanism of action of Juanbi Capsules (蠲痹胶囊), a Chinese medicine for invigorating the kidney and replenishing qi, in preventing osteoarthritis of the knee in rabbits. Methods: Seventy-two 4-month-old, Japanese long-eared white rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups: control (group A), model (group B), Chinese drug; high-dose (group C), Chinese drug; mid-dose (group D), Chinese drug; low-dose (group E), and drug control (group F). With the exception of the rabbits in group A, each rabbit was subjected to plaster cast fixation for 6 weeks to induce osteoarthritis. In addition, rabbits were administrated with an intragastric injection of the Chinese drug (groups C, D and E) or an aminoglucose hydrochloride capsule (group F) for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from the central ear artery for serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations, and the knee joint cartilage was harvested for gross observation and light microscopy. Results: There were significant differences in serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations between group B and groups C, D and E (P<0.05), with no significant differences between groups D and F. Histological results showed various changes in tissue staining with treatment, with osteophyte and bone cyst formation, and superficial erosion in the articular surface of the cartilage; in some cases, the defect reached the mid-layer of the cartilage, and these changes were lower than those in the model group. Conclusion: Juanbi Capsules assist in preventing osteoarthritis in the rabbit, possibly by decreasing serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels.

Effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula on the Endometrial Gland Apoptosis in Mice with Blastocyst Implantation Dysfunction

Objective: To observe the effects of Bushenyiqihexue Formula (补肾益气和血方 Formula for Tonifying the Kidney, Replenishing qi and Harmonizing Blood, FTKRQHB) on the endometrial gland apoptosis in the mice with blastocyst implantation dysfunction. Methods: The mice with the first-day pregnancy were divided into the control, model and treatment groups, with 30 in each group, and blastocyst implantation dysfunction was induced by subcutaneous injection of mifepristone in the mice of the model and treatment groups. The pregnancy rate and implantation number of blastocysts were measured and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, and activated caspase-3 were detected in all the three groups. Results: The model group had significantly depressed pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index, and elevated proliferation index of endometrial gland as compared with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Administration of FTKRQHB (the treatment group) resulted in significant increases in pregnancy rate, implantation number of blastocysts and apoptosis index of the endometrial gland, and a significant decrease in the proliferation index of the endometrial gland as compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The differences in the four indexes between the treatment group and control group were not significant statistically. The Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland in the model group became significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.01), whereas those in the treatment group were significant higher than that of the model group (P<0.01). However, the Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in endometrial gland were similar in both treatment and control groups. Conclusion: Promoting the increases in Bax and activated caspase-3 expressions in the endometrial gland and bringing into balance between apoptosis and proliferation of the glandular cells at the implantation window phase by FTKRQHB may contribute to the effects of promoting the establishment of endometrial receptivity and improving blastocyst implantation dysfunction.