OBJECTIVETo establish rat models of Steroid-avascular necrosis of femoral head, observe the effects of activating blood circulation of chinese herbal medicine on genetic expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). To interpret the mechanism of the effect on Steroid-avascular necrosis of femoral head by activating blood circulation,and offer a effective method to clinical.

METHODSCleaner-40 SD rats,half males and half females, weight (200 +/- 20) g, were randomly divided into 2 groups: 4 rats were in common group and 36 rats were in medel group. The rats in medel group were administered with 24.5 mg/kg hydroxyprednisone twice a week peritoneal injection for 6 weeks induced to femur head necrosis. The rats in common group were through gluteus injection as control. There were 4 rats were killed in each group after 6 weeks, to be assure that the model were succed. All surplus rats were divided into treatment group and control group:the treatment group were administrated with activating blood circulation of Chinese herbal medicine 12.3 ml/kg per day,the control group were administrated with sodium chloride 12.3 ml/kg per day. Then, after 6 and 8 weeks, killed the animal and detected all indexes.

RESULTS(1) The expression of TGF-beta by immunohistochemistry and image analysis: the expression of femoral head TGF-beta increased significantly in treatment group than in control group and two group had significant differences. (2) Serum levels of TGF-beta1: in the treatment group serum expression of TGF-beta1 increased,compared with the control group had significant difference (P < 0.01). (3) The femoral head local TGF-beta1 mRNA transcription: treatment group in the first six weeks, expressed that the increase in the first eight weeks, expressed also reduced,and the control group in the first six weeks, expressed a decrease in the first eight weeks,was not detected to TGF-beta1 mRNA expression of difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.01). TGF-beta1 mRNA in serum and the femoral head with local expression of TGF-beta1, in consistency.

CONCLUSIONRat abdominal cavity prednisolone acetate injection plus intermittent standing avascular necrosis modeling stability, good repeatability. Taohongsiwu through the promotion of hormone-ischemic necrosis of the femoral head rat model of TGF-beta1 mRNA transcription, and promote expression of TGF-beta1.