title: [Regulation of single herb pilose antler on the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 in the cartilage of OA rats: an experimental research].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of single herb pilose antler (PA) on the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 in the cartilage of osteoarthritis (OA) rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred 3-month old female healthy SD rats, (200 +/- 20) g, were recruited and routinely fed for 1 week. They were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the low dose PA group, the high dose PA group, the normal saline control group, the model group, and the normal control group, 20 in each group. The model was prepared using classic Hulth method except the normal control group. After 6-week modeling, the model was confirmed successful by pathologic observation. PA at 0.021 g/100 g and 0.084 g/1 00 g was given by gastrogavage to rats in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group respectively. Normal saline was administered to those in the normal saline control group. No treatment was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Bilateral knee cartilages were harvested at week 2,4, and 6. mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 were detected by immunohistochemical assay, fluorescent quantitative PCR, and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OA model was successfully prepared by pathological observation. Results of immunohistochemical assay showed that Smad2 and Smad3 expressed extensively in the cartilage, and located inside the chondrocyte membrane. Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2, 4, and 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, mRNA expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the chondrocytes of the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 2 and 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 2 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously increased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 4, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at week 4 after gastrogavage, protein expression of Smad2 and Smad3 obviously decreased in the low dose PA group and the high dose PA group at week 6, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) The pilose antler could repair cartilages by regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3. (2) Up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of Smad2 and Smad3 might be one of important mechanisms for the pathogenesis of OA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Zhi-Tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xue-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Mu-Xun
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yue-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000737:chemistry*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497784:Smad2 protein, rat; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497787:Smad3 protein, rat