title: [Effects of erlong zuoci pills and its effective disassembled prescriptions on gentamycin induced hair cell apoptosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of erlong zuoci (ELZC) pills and its disassembled prescriptions (Shudi-huang-Zexie group and Zexie group) on the enzymatic activity and protein expression changes of the key apoptosis molecules in the gentamycin injured hair cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The model of gentamycin induced ototoxicity in mice cochlear primary cultures was copied. Cochlear organotypic cultures of postnatal day 3-5 (P3-P5) mice were treated with gentamycin alone or in combination with ELZC pills, Shudihuang-Zexie group or Zexie group respectively. The enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 was determined by means of fluorescence staining in situ. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the hair cell area was examined by immunofluorescence in normal and treated specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average optical density analysis indicated that, compared to the normal group, 0.03 mmol x L(-1) gentamycin could significantly activate Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, downregulate the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression. Compared to the gentamycin model group, ELZC pills significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and upregulated the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression, showing inhibition trend toward the enzymatic activity of Caspase-3. Both Shudihuang-Zexie group and Zexie group could effectively inhibit the enzymatic activity of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, upregulate the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ELZC pills, Shudihuang-Zexie group and Zexie group can effectively protect hair cells from gentamycin by correcting the abnormal changes of the mitochondrion-dependent signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Center of Teaching and Learning, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China. jwrabit@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunrong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guoqin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Ruixin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhifen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xichen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jianrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005839:Gentamicins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9