title: [Protective effects of Chinese herbal medicine Huqi extractum on salivary glands against radiation in Wistar rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effects of Huqi extractum, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on salivary glands against radiation in Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-exposure group, untreated group, and low-, medium- and high-dose Huqi groups. Local irradiation of 60Co gamma-rays with a single dose of 15 Gy was applied to the salivary glands of the Wistar rats except the sham-exposure group. After 3- and 40-day treatment, saliva was collected. Colorimetric method, iodine-amylase colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect concentrations of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and activity of salivary amylase. Pathological changes of salivary gland tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin straining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3-day administration, radiation-induced salivary gland injuries were obvious and prevalent in irradiated rats. Comparing with the sham-exposure group, saliva concentration of sIgA and body weight were reduced in other irradiated groups, except those in the high-dose Huqi group, while salivary amylase level was increased. At 3-day phase, pathologic changes of the salivary glands were featured as swelling acinus plasm and vacuolation. At 40-day phase, atrophy of gland cells was dominant. After 40-day administration, there were no significant differences between the high-dose Huqi group and sham-exposure group in sIgA and amylase levels and body weight, and according to the histological examination, no significant difference was revealed under the optical microscope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese herbal medicine is helpful for the recovery of the salivary glands from the radiation injury, morphologically and functionally in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yan-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Kai-li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D000681:Amylases