OBJECTIVETo study the effects of warm and tonify kidney-yang herbs on the liver mitochondria proteome of the thyroidectomized kidney-yang deficiency rats.

METHODTwelve rats were divided into normal group, model group and treated group; each group had four rats. The rats of model group and treated group were excised the two side thyroid gland, and the rats of normal group were done the homologous operation, but didn't excise the thyroid gland. After seven days, the rats of model group and treated group appeared the symptoms of kidney-yang deficiency. From the eighth day, the rats of treated group were fed warm and tonify kidney-yang herbs 6.7 g x kg(-1) once daily, and the rats of other two groups were fed the equal normal. All rats of three groups were killed by decollation after six days of treatment, and liver mitochondria proteins were separated. Each liver mitochondria protein sample was labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 randomly, and one Cy3-labeled sample and one Cy5-labeled sample were mixed on the same 2-D gel along with a Cy2-labeled mixture of all samples as an internal standard and run on the same gel. The gels were scanned under different wavelength light after electrophoresis. All images were analyzed by DeCyder 6. 5 software, and the different proteins were identified by mass spectrum.

RESULTThe expression of HSP60, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, carbamoylphosphate synthetase I, ATP synthase, lactotransferrin, H(+)-transporting two-sector ATPase, alpha-ETF and calpain 12 were increased in the thyroidectomized kidney-yang deficiency rats, while the expression of oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, ornithine aminotransferase, and GTP-binding regulatory protein were decreased. After the kidney-yang deficiency rats were treated with warm and tonify kidney-yang herbs, the expression of HSP60, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, ATP synthase, lacto-transferrin, H(+)-transporting two-sector ATPase, alpha-ETF and GTP-binding regulatory protein were increased, and the expression of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I and calpain 12 were decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe warm and tonify kidney-yang herbs perform its therapeutical effect by regulating the metabolism, protecting the stability of mitochondrial membrance and maintaining the signal conduction in the cells.