[Effect of wuzi yanzong pill and its disassembled prescription on mitochondrial DNA deletion, respiratory chain complexes and ATP synthesis in aged rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WZYZP) and its disassembled prescription on mitochondrial DNA deletions, respiratory chain complexes and ATP synthesis in aged rats.


METHODS
Animal experiments with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme kinetics and bioluminescence technique were conducted.


RESULTS
WZYZP and its disassembled prescription of Fructus Lycii and Semen Cuscutae could reduce the mitochondrial DNA deletions and raise the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, IV and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in aged rats' brain; Fructus Lycii and Semen Cuscutae could also reduce the mitochondrial DNA deletions in aged rats' heart (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
WZYZP, Fructus Lycii and Semen Cuscutae have protective effect on oxidative damage of mitochondrial DNA in aged rats.
Wang
X M
XM
Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100034.
Fu
H
H
Liu
G X
GX
D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D017353:Gene Deletion; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D025181:ATP Synthetase Complexes