title: [Effect of ligustrazine on the expression of Bcl-2 protein and apoptosis in rabbit articular chondrocytes in monolayer culture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of Bcl-2 protein and apoptosis in rabbit articular chondrocytes in monolayer culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  We separated chondrocytes from the rabbit articular cartilage and cultured them in vitro. We divided them into 2 groups. One group was added the injective ligustrazine hydrochloride(LH), and the other was added the same quantity of culture medium as the comparison. The expression of Bcl-2 in every group was examined with immunohistocytochemistry technique, and the apoptosis was observed with TUNEL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups both expressed Bcl-2 protein, but the expression in the LH group was significantly higher than that in the comparison group (P < 0.01). The two groups both had apoptosis, the rate of which in the LH group was significantly lower than that in the comparison group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ligustrazine may repair the cartilaginous lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Kang-hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011719:Pyrazines; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine