Shenfu injection alleviates intestine epithelial damage in septic rats.
BACKGROUND
Shenfu injection (SFI) promotes tissue microcirculation and oxygen metabolism. We aimed to assess its effects on intestinal epithelial damage in septic rats.


METHODS
Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation (Sham), sepsis (cecal ligation and puncture [CLP]), and SFI (low-dose, middle-dose, high-dose) groups (n = 10). For Sham animals, the abdominal cavity was opened and closed. For other groups, severe sepsis was induced by CLP. After surgery, saline (Sham and CLP rats) and SFI (treatment groups) were administered intraperitoneally. Samples were collected 12 hours after injection. Serum tumor necrosis factor α, diamineoxidase, and d-lactate levels and ileal mucosal damage and ultrastructural change, as well as protein and messenger RNA expression of tight junction markers, including Claudin-3 and zonula occludens protein-1 in ileal mucosa's epithelial cells, were assessed. All animal experiments were carried out under aseptic conditions.


RESULTS
Compared with Sham animals, serum tumor necrosis factor α, DAO, and d-lactic acid levels in CLP animals were significantly higher; the ileal mucosal damage was more severe; and the expression levels of tight junction markers were significantly decreased. These indexes were significantly improved in SFI groups, in a concentration-dependent manner, compared with CLP rats. Sham animals displayed orderly arranged ileal mucosal villi, continuous tight junctions between epithelial cells, intact organelles, and microvilli. Compared with CLP animals (with obvious damage in these structures), an overt improvement was observed in SFI groups, especially in the high-dose SFI group, with tight junctions clearly visible between epithelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Shenfu injection significantly alleviates intestinal epithelial damage in septic rats, in a dose-dependent manner.
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Xi
X
Xing
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China. Electronic address: jiangrl0420@sina.com.
Ronglin
R
Jiang
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Lingcong
L
Wang
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Shu
S
Lei
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Yihui
Y
Zhi
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Yanchun
Y
Wu
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Meifei
M
Zhu
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Liquan
L
Huang
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Guolian
G
Xia
ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310006 Zhejiang Province, China.
Zheqi
Z
Chen
D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C492793:Shen-Fu; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019344:Lactic Acid; D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)