title: [Inhibitory effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on apoptosis of pancreatic beta-cells mediated by Fas in diabetes mellitus rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the BG, insulin and C-peptide in serum, ultrastructure and Fas expression of pancreatic beta-cells in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty DM rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ) were randomly divided into three groups: DM group, APS 200 mg/kg group, APS 400 mg/kg group, another 10 normal rats were taken as the control group. The drug was given by intraperitoneal for 6 weeks. The level of BG was determined by ONE TOUCH II machine. The levels of insulin and C-peptide in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. The expression of Fas was observed by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the TEM was used to observe the ultrastructure of pancreatic beta-cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) DM rats showed significant increase in BG compared with control group (P < 0.05). APS could decrease the level of FG (P < 0.05). (2) DM rats showed significant decrease in insulin and C-peptide in serum compared with control group (P < 0.05). APS has no appearance effects on the levels of them (P > 0.05). (3) The expression of Fas of beta-cells was significantly increased in DM rats, which was significantly inhibited by APS treatment. (4) It showed degenerative changes of pancreatic beta-cells ultramicroscopic structure of the DM rats, while APS treatment could significantly improve the damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APS exerts its therapeutic effects on DM, which maybe related to the significant decreasing of the Fas expression and inhibiting the apoptosis of beta-cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Weifang Medical College, Weifang 261053, China. Lichede@126.com
authors.forename: Cheng-De
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007328:Insulin; D011134:Polysaccharides; D019014:fas Receptor; D013311:Streptozocin