OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qihuang Decoction (QHD) on epithelial cell apoptosis of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injured intestinal mucosa in rat.

METHODSThe I/R injured intestinal mucosa rat model was established by clamping superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 45 min and reperfusing for 60 min. The pathomorphological Changes and epithelial cell apoptosis in the injured intestinal mucosa were observed and compared among groups: the sham-operated group (A), the model group (B), the glutamine treated group (C) and the QHD treated group (D).

RESULTSpathomorphological examination showed that in group A, the intestinal villus was intact; in group B, the intestinal subepithelial space were dilated, and showed evident cleavage between the epithelial top and the lamina propria with bare capillaries, bleeding and ulceration; in group C and D, the above-mentioned pathomorphological changes were alleviated to some extents, appeared only in part of the villa, and the alleviation was more significant in group D than in group C. Chiu's scoring showed that the lowest score (zero) presented in group A and the highest presented in group B; scores in group C and D was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.05), but showed insignificant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Epithelial cell apoptosis detection showed that the least apoptosis rate presented in group A, and the highest in the group B; while in the group C, it lied between group A and B (all P < 0.05), and showed no statistical significance to group D (P > 0.05), though appeared a lowering trend.

CONCLUSIONQHD could reduce the I/R injured intestinal epithelial mucosa, and its protective mechanism may be related to the inhibition on apoptosis of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells.