Effects of xiaoyu tablet on endothelin-1, nitric oxide, and apoptotic cells of atherosclerotic vessel wall in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanism of xiaoyu tablet on reduction of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in atherosclerotic vessel wall.


METHODS
The atherosclerotic model was performed in male New Zealand rabbits that were given high fat diet and abrasion of the abdominal aorta endothelial cells. The rabbits were then administered with xiaoyu tablet 0.16-0.32 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 16 weeks. Changes in morphology, endothelin (ET)-1, nitric oxide (NO), and apoptotic cells of atherosclerotic vessel wall were determined by the microscopy, radioimmunoassay, colorimetric method, the techniques of DNA in situ end labeling, and image pattern analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
After 16 weeks of xiaoyu tablet treatment, intimal thickness and SMC in atherosclerotic vessel wall were diminished, ET-1 was decreased by 8.2 %-42.6 %, NO was increased by 7.5 %-54.2 %, and labeled apoptotic nuclei were markedly decreased, the area and integral optical density of positive granule were (846+/-308) microm2 and 3425+/-1374 in atherosclerotic group and (225+/-60) microm2 and 1445+/-606 in xiaoyu tablet 0.32 g/kg group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Xiaoyu tablet not only inhibited proliferation of SMC through reducing ET-1 in atherosclerotic vessel wall, but also induced apoptosis of SMC by increasing NO in vessel wall.
Xie
Mei-Lin
ML
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Soochow University, Suzhou 215007, China. szzys@public1.sz.js.cn
Mao
Cai-Ping
CP
Gu
Zhen-Lun
ZL
Chen
Ke-Ji
KJ
Zhou
Wen-Xuan
WX
Guo
Ci-Yi
CY
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D013607:Tablets
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019332:Endothelin-1; D013607:Tablets; D009569:Nitric Oxide