Effect of Erzhi Pill (二至丸) on improving cerebral nerve cell apoptosis in aging rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Erzhi Pill (二至丸,EZP) on nerve cell apoptosis in senescence model rats.


METHODS
The rats model of senescence was established by peritoneal D-galactose injection combined with thymusectomy. Forty SD rats were randomized into four groups, the normal control group, the senescence model group, the EZP treated group, and the vitamins treated group, 10 in each group. The rats were made into senescence model except those in the normal group. In the same time of D-galactose injection, the rats were treated respectively with distilled water, EZP 4.32 g/kg, and vitamins E and C 0.06 g/kg daily for 6 weeks via intragastric infusion. The index of main viscera (as brain, testis, etc.), serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and total anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC) were measured after a 6-week treatment. Meanwhile, the cerebral cortex neuronal apoptosis proportion and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Both EZP and vitamins E and C treatments showed effects on increasing testis index and serum level of T-AOC, reducing the percentage of neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex, and elevating MMP in the aging rats model.


CONCLUSIONS
EZP could inhibit the cerebral cortex neuron apoptosis and maintain the mitochondrial function in the senescent process of rats induced by peritoneal D-galactose injection combined with thymusectomy. It also shows antioxidation effect to some extents.
Medical Experimental Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Hui-li
HL
Gao
Dan-qiao
DQ
Wang
Xiao-yan
XY
Wang
Zhi-guo
ZG
Wang
Xiang-ming
XM
Wang
Zhao-en
ZE
Wu
Hong
H
Liu
Yan-yan
YY
Ma
Xiao-hong
XH
Niu
Lian-da
LD
Li
D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C477278:erzhi pill; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases