Objective:To investigate the effect of synthetic borneol on penetration mechanism of ligustrazine hydrochloride. Methods: Permeation tests in vitro through rabbit skin in two compartment diffusion cells were performed to study the effect of synthetic borneol on transdermal absorption of ligustrazine hydrochloride by changing concentrations of synthetic borneol and rabbit skin condition. Results: Ligustrazine hydrochloride permeation coefficient increased linearly with incerease of concentrations of synthetic borneol, while those through strippde stratum corneum skin were not varied. Synthetic borneol enhanced the deposit functions of whole skin and stripped stratum corneum skin. Conclusions: Synthetic borneol could enhance the percutaneous absorption of ligustrazine hydrochloride, mainly through the stratum corneum, and increase the deposit function.

This paper, based on recent 10 years pharmacological experimental studies, reviews the effects of total flavones of epimedium on cardiovascular system, circulatory system, immune system and bone marrow system, etc.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of berberine on differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to adipocytes and its mechanism. METHODS Rat MSCs were isolated and cultured, adipocytic differentiation was induced with adipogenesis-inducing medium (AIM). Cells were assigned into 6 groups:normal control, AIM group, AIM+berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 groups, respectively. Morphology characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells were observed under an inverted microscope and adipocyte levels were analyzed by oil O staining. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate. The cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) mRNA were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, MSCs adipogenic differentiation, PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA expression significantly increased in AIM group (P<0.01), ALP activity in AIM group significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with AIM group, berberine inhibited MSCs adipogenic differentiation (P<0.01) and berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 increased ALP activity by 26%, 54%, 81% and 122%, respectively. Berberine 3 μmol·L-1 significantly downregulated PPARγ expression (0.91±0.10 vs 1.34±0.06) (P<0.01), aP2 (1.05±0.10 vs 1.53±0.09) (P<0.01) and C/EBPα mRNA (1.24±0.06 vs 1.54±0.09) (P<0.01). Berberine had no effect on proliferation of MSCs. CONCLUSION Berberine inhibits differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes, which might be closely related to the downregulation of PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA.

AIM To investigate the inhibitory effect of paeonol on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. METHODS The injury model in PC12 cells was generated by H2O2 treatment. The cell viability was determined using methylthiazolyl tetrazolium reduction assay. Apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content were measured by spectroscope respectively. RESULTS After PC12 cells were treated with H2O2 (100 μmol*L-1) for 10 h,its viability obviously decreased, and apoptotic cells, LDH release into the culture media, ROS and MDA contents in PC12 cells significantly increased. When the cells were pretreated with paeonol (12, 25 and 50 μmol*L-1)for 1 h prior to incubation with H2O2, its viability was greatly increased, and apoptotic cells, LDH release, ROS and MDA contents significantly decreased. CONCLUSION Paeonol protects PC12 cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis and this effect is probably achieved through its antioxidative action.

AIM: To observe the changes of different parts of bones in rats 90 days after ovariectomized (OVX). METHODS: Twenty 4.5 month old virgin female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: sham group and OVX group. Rats in sham group were sham operated, while rats in OVX group were bilaterally OVX. Rats in two groups were treated with 5 ml?kg -1 ?d -1 ethanol for 90 days. Parameters of the proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM), tibial shaft (Tx) and the fifth lumbar vertebral body (LVB) were analyzed by bone histomorphometry method. RESULTS: %Tb.Ar and Tb.N were decreased by 80.5 % and 76.1 %, Tb.Sp and Oc.N were increased by 468.0 % and 356.6 %, and MAR and BFR/BV were increased by 43.9 % and 95.9 %, respectively, in PTM. The changes in LVB were not remarkable as those in PTM. %Tb.Ar and Tb.Th were decreased by 35.0 % and 31.0 %, while Oc.N and BFR/BV were increased by 106.9 % and 126.8 %, respectively. The cortical bone and marrow areas of tibial shaft did not change in Tx, but bone formation parameters (%P LPm, %E LPm) were increased. CONCLUSION: After OVX for 90 days, high bone turnover osteopenia model is duplicated successfully in rats. Different parts of the bones have different reaction to ovariectomization in rats.

AIM: To observe the changes of bone in female Sprague Dawley rats aged 4.5 and 7.5 months. METHODS: Forty 4 month old virgin female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4.5 month group and 7.5 month group. Bone histomorphometric analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM), tibial shaft (Tx) and the fifth lumbar vertebral body (LV5) was performed in undecalcified sections. RESULTS: There was no significant change in bone volume of PTM, LV5 and Tx between 4.5 and 7.5 months of age. However, the bone formation parameters (%L.Pm, MAR, BFR/TV, BFR/BV, BFR/BS) of LV5 and Tx fall rapidly between 4.5 and 7.5 months of age. CONCLUSION: There is no significant change in cancellous and cortical bone mass, but the bone formation of LV5 and Tx decreases in female Sprague Dawley rats aged from 4.5 to 7.5 months.

AIM: To study the effects of epimedium pubescens flavonoids (EF) on the skeleton in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty 4.5-month-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Rats in sham group were sham-operated and treated by daily oral gavage with vehicle. Rats in other three groups were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and treated by either daily oral gavage with vehicle, or diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 22.5 ?g?kg~ -1?d~ -1, or EF at 300 mg?kg~ -1?d~ -1 for 90 days. Bone histomorphometric analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM), fifth lumbar vertebrae (LV5) and tibial shaft (Tx) was performed in undecalcified sections. The left femur was collected to determine bone weight, contents of calcium (Ca) , phosphorus (P ) and hydroxyproline. The uterine weight and the uterine luminal epithelial thickness (ULET) were determined. RESULTS: A significant increase in contents of Ca and P of femur was found in EF group. A tendency of increase was found in %Tb.Ar of PTM, but no significant change was found in bone histomorphometric parameters of LV5 and Tx in EF group. EF had no effect on uterine weight and ULET. CONCLUSION: EF can prevent OVX-induced bone mineral loss of femur, but does not prevent bone loss of PTM and LV5.

AIM: To study the correlative changes of bone mineral contents and histomorphometry of lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats by analysis of T-type correlation degree. METHODS: Forty 10.5-month-old virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Basal: at 10.5 mon of age; (2) sham-1:sham-operated at 13 mon of age; (3) OVX-1: ovariectomized at 13 mon of age; (4) sham-2: sham-operated at 16 mon of age; (5) OVX-2:ovariectomized at 16 mon of age. After ovariectomy, all rats were treated orally with NS at 5 ml?kg -1?d -1. At the end-point of study, the undecalcified longitudinal fourth lumbar vertebra (LV4) sections were cut and stained with Goldner's Trichrome for bone histomorphometric analyses. The fifth lumbar vertebra (LV5) was dried with temperature and digested with acid for testing of bone mineral content. Then the effects of bone mineral contents on bone histomorphometry were assessed by analyzing the T-type correlation degree in the Grey system. RESULTS: All degrees of correlation between bone mineral contents and static histomorphometric parameters (trabecular bone volume) (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) were positive, but for dynamic histomorphometric parameter (BFR/BV), the correlation degrees were negative. The effect of contents of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) on histomorphometric parameters of lumbar vertebrae was much greater than that of the other bone mineral contents. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of T-type correlation degree can evaluate the correlative changes of bone mineral contents and histomorphometry of lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized objectively and fairly.

0.05). CONCLUSION: Fufang Danshen can promote the medial period of fracture healing in rabbits, and its effect is identical with Shangke Jiegu Pian.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of male osteoporosis is attracting more and more attention. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of etidronate disodium on different skeletal sites by using bone histomorphometry through establishing a castrated rat model of osteoporosis. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A completely randomized grouping controlled animal experiment was performed in the Animal Experimental Center and Department of Bone Biology Laboratory, Guangdong Medical College between October 2002 and September 2006. MATERIALS: Forty 3.5-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing (299+_22) g, were selected. Etidronate disodium was produced by Chengdu Chemical Pharmaceutical Factory with the batch number of 970101. Methyltestosterone was produced by Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Jacob with the batch number of 990701. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, sham operation group, castration group, castration with methyltestosterone group and castration with etidronate disodium group, eight rats in each group. Rats in the control group were sacrificed at the beginning of the study. Rats in the sham operation group underwent skin incision to expose the testis, but not removed. The remaining rats were treated to remove the testis by the method reported in the literature. Rats in the sham operation group and castration group were given normal saline, rats in the castration with methyltestosterone group were given methyltestosterone at 1.8mg/kg/d, rats in the castration with etidronate disodium group were given etidronate disodium at 36mg/kg/d. All of the rats were treated with intragastric administration at 5mL/kg for 90 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bone histomorphometric analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM), tibial shaft (Tx) and the fifth lumbar vertebral body (LVB) were performed in undecalcified sections. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, trabecular area percentage (%Tb.Ar), trabecular number (Tb.N) or trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of PTM and LVB in the castration group were decreased (P < 0.05 and 0.01 ), while trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), percent labeled perimeter (%L.Pm), bone formation rate (BFR/BV) and osteoclast number per mm (Oc.N) were increased (P < 0.05 and 0.01 ). Tb.Ar of PTM and LVB were increased both in the etidronate disodium group and in the methyltestosterone group compared to those of the castration group, while bone formation indices and bone resorption perimeter were decreased. There was no significant difference between the etidronate disodium and methyltestosterone groups, and no significant change was in Tx in all groups. CONCLUSION: Etidronate disodium can prevent the cancellous bone loss of PTM and LVB in castrated rats, but has no effects on the cortical bone of Tx.