Effects of Jinmaitong Capsule () on ciliary neurotrophic factor in sciatic nerves of diabetes mellitus rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of the Chinese medicine Jinmaitong Capsule (, JMT) on the pathomorphology of sciatic nerves, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and the mRNA expressions of CNTF in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM).


METHODS
The animal model was established by one time intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats were simply divided by random into 5 groups including model group, low-dose JMT group (JL), medium-dose JMT group (JM), high-dose JMT group (JH) and neurotropin group. For each of the above 5 groups, a group of 10 normal Wistar rats matched in body weight, age and gender were set as normal group. Intragastric administrations were started after the animal model established. The JL group were administered with five times the JMT dose recommended for a human adult; the JM group were administered with ten times the JMT dose recommended for a human adult; the JH group were administered with twenty times the JMT dose recommended for a human adult. The neurotropin group was administered with ten times the neurotropin dose recommended for a human adult. All rats were given intragastric administration for 16 weeks and then killed. In the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th week, body weight and blood glucose level were detected before and after the intervention. The morphologic changes of the sciatic nerves were observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. The CNTFmRNA expressions were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain protein, and the CNTF protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
The blood glucose levels of the STZ-DM rats were much higher than normal group (P<0.01), and there was no apparent difference between any treatment groups and the model group (P>0.05). Before and after the intervention in the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th week, there were no significant differences in the body weight among all the groups (P>0.05). The sciatic nerves of STZ-DM rats might have pathomorphological changes in axons, myelin sheaths, and interstitium. The levels of CNTF and CNTF-mRNA expressions in the STZ-DM rats were both significantly decreased (P<0.01). The sciatic nerves of STZ-DM rats might have pathomorphological changes in axons, myelin sheaths, and interstitium.


CONCLUSIONS
JMT could improve the pathomorphology of sciatic nerves by increasing CNTF's and CNTF-mRNA expressions in sciatic nerve tissues, and promote the repair and regeneration of damaged nerve fibers.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Translational Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yue
Y
Shi
Xiao-Chun
XC
Liang
Qun-Li
QL
Wu
Lian-Qing
LQ
Sun
Ling
L
Qu
Li
L
Zhao
Pu-Yan
PY
Wang
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001786:Blood Glucose; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C583496:jinmaitong