[Effect of ligustrazine on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect and mechanism of ligustrazine on the airway remodeling.


METHODS
Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal group (A), the model group (B), the ligustrazine low-dose group (C, 40 mg/kg) and the ligustrazine high-dose group (D, 80 mg/kg), with 8 rats in each group. The chronic asthmatic model was established by repeated inhalation of ovalbumin. The changes of collagen and transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) contents in the airway wall, the thickness of smooth muscle and basement membrane, inner and outer diameter were measured by the computerized image analysis system.


RESULTS
The thickness of smooth muscle and basement membrane were (11.3 +/- 1.3, 11.3 +/- 1.7) microm in D group, (19.7 +/- 1.8, 19.8 +/- 1.6) microm in B group, the difference being significant (P < 0.01), as compared with A group [(10.6 +/- 1.2) microm, (9.8 +/- 1.6) microm] and C group [(11.6 +/- 0.9) microm, (12.3 +/- 1.8) microm], the difference being not significant (all P > 0.05). The difference in the ratio of inner diameter to outer diameter was significant between D group (0.77 +/- 0.06) and B group (0.63 +/- 0.05), P < 0.01. The contents of collagen type III and TGF-beta(1) were (21 +/- 5, 26 +/- 5) in D group, (55 +/- 7, 69 +/- 14) in B group, the difference being significant (P < 0.01). The differences were also significant when C group [32 +/- 8, 38 +/- 10] was compared with D group (P < 0.05) and B group (P < 0.01). The contents of collagen type I showed no difference among the 4 groups (A group: 34 +/- 13, B group: 44 +/- 8, C group: 36 +/- 8, D group: 39 +/- 8; all P > 0.05). A close correlation between TGF-beta(1) and collagen type III was demonstrated (r = 0.844 2, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Ligustrazine might suppress airway remodeling by decreasing the expression of TGF-beta(1) and reducing deposition of collagen.
Wang
Wen-Jian
WJ
Department of Pediatrics, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Yang
Li
L
Wang
Xi-Hua
XH
Li
Hai-Lang
HL
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D024061:Collagen Type III; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011719:Pyrazines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D010047:Ovalbumin; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine