OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Xuebijing injection on serum protein level in the early phase of septic rats and explain the mechanism from the perspective of molecular biology.

METHODFifty-four healthy wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, sepsis group and Xuebijing treatment group. The rat model of sepsis was established with injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through caudal vein. Serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were measured at the point of 6, 12 and 24 h with the established model. The expression of AMPK, eEF2 protein in liver in the three groups were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTCompared with control gruop, the concentrations of TP and ALB of sepsis group and Xuebijing group were no significant difference with 6, 12 h treatment TP and ALB in sepsis group was lower (P<0.01) than control group after 24 h, and the expression of phos-AMPK, pho-eEF2 protein in livers was increased (P<0.01) simultaneously. All measured indexes in Xuebijing group has no difference with control group. Compared with sepsis group, TP and ALB of Xuebijing group was significantly higher (P<0.05), but litle lower than control group, the expression of phos-AMPK, pho-eEF2 protein in livers was decreased (P<0.05) simultaneously.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that Xuebijing injection prohibits catabolising serum albumin and inhibit liver protein catabolism by method of AMPK way.