Effects of shuganlifei method on the cerebral hippocampus formation in rats with asthma under the condition of stress

Abstract

Aim: To explore the changes of the formation of cerebral hippocampus in rats with binding stress asthma after treated with shuganlifei method. Methods: The experiment was conducted in the key laboratory of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between March 2002 and January 2003. Fifty-six SD male rats were selected and assigned randomly into 7 groups: normal group, asthma group, stress group, asthma stress group, desamethasone group, regulating lung group and shuganlifei group with 8 rats in each group. The rats in normal group and stress group were treated with 1 mL saline through intraperitoneal injection. Those in other groups were treated with equivalence antigen fluid induced sensitization respectively through intraperitoneal injection. From the 8th day after sensitization, the both hindlimb of the rats in stress group, asthma stress group, desamethasone group, regulating lung group and shuganlifei group were fixed by band every day vertically for 2 hours and gave the binding stress stimulation, totally for 3 weeks; Meanwhile, the rats in desamethasone group, regulating lung group and shuganlifei group were given desamethasone (0.75mg/each) 1 g/(L ·kg) and regulating lung method (ephedra, cassia twig, asarum, dried ginger, pinellia tuber, Chinese magnoliavine fruit and white peony root, all 9 g) 28 g/(mL ·kg) and shuganlifei method (based on the regulating method, 9 g Chinese thorowax root and 9 g immature bitter orange were added) 36 g/(mL ·kg) for gastric perfusion. From the 15th day after sensitization, the rats in the asthma group, asthma stress group, desamethasone group, regulating lung group and shuganlifei group were given 20 g/L egg albumin absorbing for 3 minutes, totally for 2 weeks. At the ending of building models and treatment, the blood of abdominal aorta was separated from anesthesia rats. The level of plasm corticosterone was tested by radio-immunity method. After exacting the blood, the brain of rats was obtained by bittern the cranium. The form structure of cerebral hippocampal was detected by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Results: Totally 56 rats were involved in the result analysis without drop. 1 The comparison of the level of plasm corticosterone in every group: It increased significantly in the asthma group and the stress group than that in the normal group [(532.48±115.28), (323.32±100.40), (235.27±46.64) μg/L, (P < 0.01, < 0.05)]. It decreased significantly in the shuganlifei group than that in the asthma stress group [(309.50±46.52), (569.89±72.32) μg/L(P all < 0.01)].It decreased significantly in the shuganlifei group than that in the regulating lung group [(528.60±30.72) μg/L,(P < 0.01)]. 2 The comparison of the formation structure of cerebral hippocampus under light microscope in the rats in each group: The pyramidal cells of cerebral hippocampus in the normal group were regularly arranged and the nucleus was round and big with clear nucleolus. The pyramidal cells in the asthma stress group, the desamethasone group and the regulating lung group were irregularly arranged. There were a large number of karyopyknosis of pyramidal cells in the CA3 area. The pyramidal cells arrangement of cerebral hippocampus in the shuganlifei group was more regular, and the pyknosis neurons in CA3 area decreased significantly. 3 The comparison of the formation structure of cerebral hippocampus under electron microscope in the rats in each group: The nucleus form of pyramidal cells in cerebral hippocampus in the normal group was regular with smooth karyotheca, the even distribution of nucleus heterochromatin, plenty mitochondrion and regular crest arrangement. It was similar between the asthma stress group and regulating lung group. The nucleus form of pyramidal cells in cerebral hippocampus was irregular, and the nucleus heterochromatin significantly increased with rarefaction cell plasm and most of extended mitochondrion, vacuoles and disorder crest arrangement. The nucleus form of pyramidal cells in cerebral hippocampus in desamethasone was irregular with the organell degeneration. The nucleus form of pyramidal cells in cerebral hippocampus in the shuganlifei group was regular with smooth karyotheca, even distribution of nucleus heterochromatin, cell plasm of rarefaction plenty mitochondrion but compact. Conclusion: The chronic binging stress can evoke or aggravate asthma, induce the increase of the level of plasm corticosterone in the rats with asthma, in order that the form of cerebral hippocampus neuron was injured. The shuganlifei method can play certain protective effects on the form structure of cerebral hippocampus neuron by the means of inhibiting the excretion of plasm corticosterone in the rats with asthma under the condition of stress.