title: Protective Effect of Zengye Decoction () on Submandibular Glands in Nonobese Diabetic Mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the protective effect of Zengye Decoction (, ZYD) on the submandibular glands (SMGs) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven female NOD mice were randomly equally divided into 3 groups: the model group, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) group, and the ZYD group. Nine C57/B6 mice served as the normal group. After 1-week acclimation, the HCQ and ZYD groups were intragastrically administered with HCQ and ZYD, respectively, and the normal and model groups were administered with normal saline. Changes in the salivary flow rate were observed. Mice from all 4 groups were sacrificed at the age of 20 weeks. The serum and SMGs were collected. Serum cytokines gamma-interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histological changes in the submandibular glands were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-10 and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the submandibular glands were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the model group, the salivary flow of the ZYD group significantly increased (P<0.05), the extent of the histological changes was ameliorated (P<0.05), and the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance was remedied (P<0.05). In the ZYD-treated mice, the VIP mRNA was up-regulated (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZYD is beneficial in protecting structure and function of SMGs in NOD mice. The mechanism may be associated with the correction of the Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance, and with the prevention of a progressive decline of the VIP level.
authors.affiliation: The First College of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.|Department of Rheumatology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210001, China.
authors.forename: Su-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The First College of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ancient Texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: The First College of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China. wangyuephd@126.com.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
keywords: Chinese medicine; Sjögren’s syndrome; Th1/Th2 vasoactive intestinal peptide; Zengye Decoction