Objective To investigate the delay of the denervated skeletal muscle atrophy with the method of restraining the increment of the connective tissues by tetrandrine and hormone. Methods The left hind limbs of 42 male adult SD rats were made into models of the denervated gastrocnemius, and then the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 14 rats in each. In Group A, tetrandrine (8 mg/L）was injected into the denervated gastrocnemius; in Group B, triamcinolone acetonide（1.6 g/L） was injected; in Group C (the control group),normal saline was injected. Enough samples were obtained according to the different observation indexes at 30 days after operation. Electromyography, muscle wet weight measurement, light microscopy,electron microscopy,and microimage analysis were performed. ResultsThe fibrillation potential amplitude was 0.195 8±0.041 9 μV in Group A and 0.185 2±0.050 3 μV in Group B, and there was no significant difference betweenthe two groups (Pgt;0.05). However,in Group C the fibrillation potential amplitude was 0.137 7±0.058 9μV. The fibrillation potential amplitude was significantly greater in Group A than in Group C（Plt;0.05）. The muscle wet weight was 1.740 0±0.415 9 g in Group A and 1.940 1±0.389 4 gin Group B, and there was no significant difference between the two groups(Pgt;0.05).However, in Group C the muscle wet weight was 0.800 0±0.100 0 g. The muscle wet weight was significantly greater in Group A than in Group C（Plt;0.05）.The microscopy showed that more remarkable atrophy occurred in the control group. The muscle fibers were more complete, thicker and larger, with more nuclei and clearer cross-lines. More connective tissue and flat cells could be observed in Groups A and B. The myogenic protein amount was 440.124 2±46.135 6 in Group A and 476.211 4±41.668 8in Group B, and there was no significant difference between the two groups(Pgt;0.05).However, in Group C the amount was 380.040 0±86.315 9.The myogenic protein amount was significantly greater in Group A thanin Group C（Plt;0.05）. The muscle fiber number, diameter, cross section, and connective tissue increment were all significantly greater in Group A than in Group C（Plt;0.05）; however, there wasno significant difference between Groups A and B (Pgt;0.05). The electron microscopy showed that there were more degeneration changes, such as muscle silk disorder, chondriosome disappearance, and hepatin reduction, could be observed inGroup C than in Groups A and B. Conclusion Tetrandrine and hormone can delay the denervated skeletal muscle atrophy by restraining the increment of the connective tissues.
Objective To investigate the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine “Tetrandrine”(TET) and its significance on epidermal growth factor(EGF) and its receptor(EGFR) in the lung of nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH) rat model. Methods Twenty female rats were given maternal administration of a single oral dose (115 mg/rat) of nitrofen to induce CDH at 9.5 days after pregnancy and were dividedinto normal solution group(NS, n=5), dexamethasone group (Dex, n=5),tetrandrine group (TET, n=5) and Dex+TET group(n=5) at 18.5 days; 4 rats were given edible oil as controls. All fetuses were delivered by cesarean section at 21.5 days. Lung histologic evaluations and EGF, EGFR immunohistochemical staining and image analysis were performed. Results CDH was observed in 64 of the 137 rat fetuses (46.7%) in the experimental groups; no CHD was observed in 36 rat fetuses of control group. The lungs of CDH fetuses showed marked hypoplasia in NS group, in contrast to improved mesenchymal differentiationin that of Dex, TET, Dex+TET groups. The expression of EGF was weaker and weaker and that of EGFR was ber and ber as following order: NS, TET, DEX, T+D and control groups; showing significant differences between them (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Prenatal TET administration shows marked improvement in pulmonary hypoplasia through preregulating crest-time of EGF expression and upregulating EGFR expression in the lungs of nitrofen-induced CDH rat model. A combination of TET and Dex would generate evident synergistic effect.
Objective To investigate the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) on experimental choroidal neovascularization and the effect of Tet on retinal structure and function. Methods Choroidal neovascularization was induced in 20 Brown Norway (BN) rats (40 eyes) by diode laser (wavelength: 810 nm; exposal time: 0.1 second; facular diameter:100 mu;m; energy: 120 mW), and the rats were divided randomly into experimental and control group with 10 rats (20 eyes) in each group. In experimental group, 0.05 ml Tet with the concentration of 3.21 mu;mol/L was injected intravitreously 0 and 3 days after laser photocoagulation; in the control group, the rats underwent an intravitreous injection with the same volume of sodium chloride solution. The incidence of CNV was evaluated by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) 14 days after laser photocoagulation. Five right eyes of another Five healthy BN rats underwent intravitreous injection with 0.05 ml Tet with the concentration of 3.21 mu;mol/L, and an intravitreous injection with the same volume of sodium chloride solution was performed on the left eyes. Before injection, 1 hour, and 1 day after the first injection, and 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days, 14 days after e second injection the electroretinography (ERG) was performed on these 5 rats; 14 days after the second injection, the retinae were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results The incidence of CNV was 23.26% in experimental group，which was obviously lower than that in the control group (63.33%) (Plt;0.01). The ratio of amplitude of b wave of ERG in the rats undergone intravitreous injection with 3.21 mg/ml Tet didnprime;t differ much from which before the injection (Pgt;0.05). There were no structural changes of retinal tissues examined by light and electron microscopy. Conclusion Tet may inhibit choroidal neovascularization in rats; there isnprime;t any significant toxic effect of intravitreous injection with Tet on retina at the dosage of 3.21 mu;mol/L. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 242-244)
Experimental uveitis was induced in rabbits by bovine serum albumin. Ocular inflammation,protein content of aqueous humor,T lymphocyte transformation and serum circulating immune complex were reduced markedly after the treatment of tetrandrine (Tet, 50mg/kg/d,ip)and dexamethasone(Dex, 5mg/kg/d,ip)for 8 days. Four days after withdrawal of Tet and Dex the protien content of the aqueous humor and serum eiucrlating immune complexes rose again,but these parameters in Tet group is lower than that in Dex group. The pathological study showed that inflammation of choroid in Tet treated group was lighter than that in untreated group. These results suggest that Tet is an effective inhibitory agent on bovine serum albumin-induced experimental uveitis. Its mechanism may be related to the suppression of cellular and humoral immune function aside from antiinflammation. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1994,10:149-152）