title: [Effectiveness of cultured Cordyceps sinensis combined with glucocorticosteroid on pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the treatment effects of cultured Cordyceps sinensis combined with glucocorticosteroid on experimental pulmonary fibrosis in rats induced by bleomycin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control group, model group, cultured C. sinensis groups, prednisone group, cultured C. sinensis combined with prednisone group. On experimental day 0, the rats were respectively intratracheally instilled with bleomycin, and rats in the control group and model group with the same volume of normal saline. One day after the injection, cultured C. sinensis and glucocorticosteroid was respectively given to rats daily by gastric gavage, while the same volume of normal saline was given to those in the control group and model group. On 28th d, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected. Histological changes of the lungs were evaluated by HE stain, Masson's trichrome stain. Collagen content of the lung tissue was assessed by hydroxyprolin concentration. Lung expression of CTGF protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The level of TGF-beta1 protein was measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to model group, pulmonary fibrosis were alleviated in cultured C. sinensis and prednisone group, and CTGF expression, Hydroxyproline concentrations and protein TGF-beta1 were decreased. The combination effect of C. sinensis and prednisone group is augmented compared with using C. sinensis or prednisone group alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cultured C. sinensis and prednisone alleviates pulmonary fibrosis, and the combination use of both drugs has synergia effects in anti-fibrous degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Second Affiliated Hospital of Shangtou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shiyue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yunen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Dongjiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity*; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D032661:Cordyceps; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D001761:Bleomycin; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D011241:Prednisone