[Effects of Shenwu capsule and its component tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside on expression of neurotrophic factors in lumbar spinal cord of aged rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Shenwu capsule (SW) and its component tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) on the expression of neurotrophic factors in lumbar spinal cord of aged rats.


METHODS
SD rats were divided into 6 groups, including 6-months-old group, 24-months-old group, 24-months-old + low dose SW (0.8 g x kg(-1)), high dose SW (1.6 g x kg(-1)), low dose TSG (0.03 g x kg(-1)) and high dose TSG (0.06 g x kg(-1)). Western blot was used to detect the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), gliacyte-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the lumbar spinal cord of rats.


RESULTS
Compared with 6-month-old young rats, the expression of NGF, BDNF and GDNF in the lumbar spinal cord was significantly decreased in the 24-month-old rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Intragastric administration of SW for 3 months obviously enhanced the expression of NGF, BDNF and GDNF in the lumbar spinal cord of aged rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and TSG significantly enhanced the expression of GDNF (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SW capsule and its component TSG elevated the expression of neurotrophic factors in the lumbar spinal cord of aged rats, suggesting that these drugs may retard aging process of the spinal cord.
Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100053, China.
Li
L
Zhang
Ning
N
Zhao
Rong
R
Wang
Lin
L
Li
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005960:Glucosides; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C532978:shenwu