[The anti-fibrotic effects of Qidan granule in experimental silicosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of Qidan granule in rats.


METHODS
The rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups: normal group, model group, Qidan group, Tetrandrine group. All rats except normal group were treated with silicon dioxide (50 mg/rat) by intratracheal instillation to induce silicosis. Qidan group and Tetrandrine group were treated with Qidan granule (3125 mg/kg) or treated with Tetrandrine (22 mg/kg) respectively. All the rats were sacrificed after 5 months. Calculate Lung/body coefficient by weighting the lung wet weight and the body weight of rats. Content of Hydroxyproline was measured by alkaline hydrolysis. The gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 was examined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Paraffin embedded lung sections with HE staining, VG staining and Gomori staining were observed under light microscope.


RESULTS
In Qidan group and Tetrandrine group, Lung/body coefficient and content of Hydroxyproline and expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 were lower as compared with model group (P < 0.05). Model group mainly showed III approximately IV grade silicotic nodule, which contained thick collagen and sparse reticulum fibe; Qidan group and Tetrandrine group appeared with II grade silicotic nodule, which contained tiny collagen and intensive reticulum fibe. Tetrandrine group showed injury of kidney, and others were normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Qidan granule extract should prevent and from inhibit the remarkably silicotic fibrosis in rats.
Zhang
Hua-nan
HN
Shandong Provincial Hospital Shandong University, Jinan City 250021, China.
Xin
Hong-tao
HT
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
Jin
Chang-jun
CJ
Huang
Shan-ying
SY
Zhang
Yan
Y
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012829:Silicosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C526714:qidan