BACKGROUND: Fleece Flower Root Granule, which consists of Fleece Flower Root, Desert-living Root, Achyranthes Root, and so on,possesses the effects of nourishing the liver and kidney, supplementing essence and blood, and prolonging life.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of. Fleece Flower Root Granule, a Chinese remedy, on the content of serum testosterone and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of testicular spermatogenic cell in subacute aging rat induced by D-galactose.DESIGN: A controlled study with completely randomized grouping design.SETTING: Institute of Basic Medicine of Chengde Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in Institute of Basic Medicine of Chengde Medical College from April to July 2003. Totally 32 adult male SD rats were at random divided into 4 groups: normal control group, model group, drug group and negative control group,with 8 in each group.METHODS: [1] The rats in model group, drug group and negative control group were intraperitoneally injected D-galactose, 200 mg/kg ,once a day for consecutive 40 days to establish subacute aging rat models. After model was set up, no treatment was given further for rats in model group; while rats in drug group were intragastrically given Fleece Flower Root Granule (The granule was made from sex Chinese medicinal herbs of Fleece Flower Root, Achyranthes, Root Desertliving Root, Poria, Red Sage Root and Epimedium, the concentration was 1.5 g/L in raw drug after decoction and preparation); rats in negative group were intragastrically given normal saline, in the same volume as that of the Granule and the time as the same with that for the rats in drug group. Rats in normal control group, with no model establishment, were given the same intervention with that for rats in negative group. [2]Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was used for the level of serum testosterone, and inmmunohistochemistry was used for the condition of expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, with the karyon in orange brawn yellow being taken as positive. [3]Measurement difference was analyzed by t-test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The content of serum testosterone and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of testicular spermatogenic cell of rats in each group.RESULTS: All 32 rats entered the result analysis. [1] The level of serum testosterone:the level of testosterone in model group was obviously lower than that in normal control group [(0.52±0.14),(1.26±0.32)μg/L, P＜ 0.05]; the level in drug group was obviously higher than that in model group [(1.16±0.32)μg/L, P ＜ 0.05]. [2] The positive rate of testicular proliferating cell nuclear antigen in rats: The rate in model group was obviously lower than that in normal control group [(23.26±3.38)%,(39.15±3.48)%, P ＜ 0.05]; and the rate in drug group was obviously higher than that in model group [(37.47±3.18)%, P ＜ 0.05]. [3]rhe distribution and change of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in seminiferous tubule: The positive staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was found in slices of all groups, the immunological positive products were located at karyon, usually in brown yellow granules, only a small part of them in diffuse state; the immunological positive cells were mainly the spermospores, besides a small quantity were spermiocyte, supporting the cell and myoid cell nuclear to be stained.CONCLUSION: Fleece Flower Root Granule can increase the content of serum testosterone and reduce the level of expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of testicular spermatogenic cell in aging rat, thus delaying degeneration of genital function, possessing a certain role in delaying aging.

BACKGROUND: Hypogonadism happens gradually with body aging. Traditional Chinese medicine views that deficiency of essential qi is the chief reason for body aging. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of tiannianyin, the Chinese herb , on serum testosterone, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in testicular tissue and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of spermatogenic cells in testes in subacute senile rats induced by D-galactose. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment. SETTING: Basic Medicine Institute of Chengde Medical College. MATERIALS: The experiment was perlormed in Basic Medicine Institute of Chengde Medical College from April to July 2003, in which, 40 adult male SD rats were employed and randomized into 4 groups, 10 rats in each .In normal group, no any management was done. In model group, medication group and negative control, D-galactosie was used for abdominal injection continuously at 200 mg (kg·d), once a day, totally for 40 days to prepare the model of subacute senile animal. In model group, no any management was done after modeling success. In medication group, gastric infusion with tiannianyin. Tiannianyin was administrated everyday after modeling success, once a day, totally for 30 days. In negative control, gastric infusion with physiological saline of same dosage was administrated after modeling success for same days. METHODS: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for determination of serum testosterone content, xanthine oxidase assay was used for determination of SOD activity in testicular tissue and immunohistochemical method was used to observe expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in rats of every group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① serum testosterone content; ② SOD activity in testicular tissue; ③ expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of spermatogenic cells. RESULTS: Forty rats all entered result analysis. ① Serum testosterone content: That in model group was lower than normal group(P ＜ 0.05), and that in medication group was higher than model group(P ＜ 0.05). ② SOD activity in testicular tissue: That in model group was lower remarkably than normal group(P ＜ 0.01), and that in medication group was higher remarkably than model group(P ＜ 0.01). ③ Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of spermatogenic cells: That in model group was lower than normal group(P ＜ 0.05), and that in medication group was higher remarkably than model group(P ＜ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiannianyin delays degeneration of reproductive function and aging of certain degree.

BACKGROUND: In follow of the gradual decrease of senile gonad function in the body, traditional Chinese medicine views that deficiency of essential qi is the chief reason of body senility. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of tian nian yin on serum testosterone content, superoxide dismutase activity in testicular tissue and apoptosis of testicular seminiferous cell in subacute senile rats. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment. SETTING: Human Anatomy Department of Chengde Medical College. MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Institute of Basic Medicine of Chengde Medical College from April to July 2003, in which,40 SD male rats were employed and randomized into 4 groups, 10 rats in each group. In model group, medicinal group and the control, D-galactose was injected 200 mg/(kg·d) to prepare subacute senile animal model, once a day, continuously for 40 days. No any management was given in model group after modeling success. In medicinal group, gastric infusion with tian nian yin [composed of zhi heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Mutiflori Preparatea),huainiuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), roucongrong (Herba Cistanchis),fuling (Poria), danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) and yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii), it was decocted till 1.5 g/mL with raw herbs contained] was administrated once a day, totally for 30 days after modeling success. In the control, gastric infusion was administrated with physiological saline of same usage as the medicinal group after modeling success. INTERVENTIONS: In every group, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine testosterone content in serum. Xanthine oxidase assay (XOD) was used to determine superoxide dismutase activity in testicular tissue and immunohistochemical method (IHC) was used to observe apoptosis of testicular seminiferous cell. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Testosterone content in serum. ②Superoxide dismutase activity in testicular tissue. ③ Apoptosis of testicular seminiferous cell RESULTS: Forty rats all entered result analysis. ① Testosterone content in serum: Testosterone content in model group was lower than normal group [(0.52±0.15) μg/L, (1.26 0.32) μg/L, (t=3.004, P ＜ 0.05)], and that in medicinal group was higher than model group [(1.16±0.32) μg/L,(0.52 0.15) μg/L, (t=2.321, P ＜ 0.05)]. ② Superoxide dismutase activity in testicular tissue: Superoxide dismutase activity in model group was lower remarkably than the normal group [(107.22±9.33) kNU/g, (147.73±11.90) kNU/g,(t=13.339, P ＜ 0.01)], and that in medicinal group was higher remarkably than model group [(141.05±14.57) kNU/g, (107.22±9.33) kNU/g, (t=9.970,P ＜ 0.01)]. ③ Apoptosis of testicular seminiferous cell: Percentage of apoptotic seniniferous tubule and apoptotic rate of positive cell in model group were higher remarkably thannormal group respectively [(53.95 ±2.02)％compared with (34.21±2.10)％, (8.67±0.80)％ compared with (3.86±0.52)％,(x2=7.9, P ＜ 0.01, x2=5.01, P ＜ 0.05)], and those in medicinal group were lower remarkably than model group[(35.33±2.18)％ compared with (53.95±2.02)％, (4.68±0.74)％ compared with (8.67±0.80)％, (x2=7.02, P ＜ 0.01, x2=3.96, P ＜ 0.05)]. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis of testicular seminiferous cell was increased in senile modelgroup. Tian nian yin in gastric infusion decreased apoptotic rate of positive cell. It is explained that tian nian yin eliminates surplus oxygenic free radical, decreases apoptosis and improves seminiferous function in animal model.

BACKGROUND: The blocking treatment can improve the clinic symptom of facial spasm. But the site, depth and the angle of puncturing point are very difficult to be defined, which will seriously infect the curative effect.OBJECTIVE: To study the applied anatomy of the related structures of facial muscle for blocking the facial nerve, and to provide anatomical bases for accurate puncturing point and preventing complications.DESIGN: An observation study based on cadavers and making the mimic puncture and measuring the correlative structures with anatomical method.SETTING: Department of anatomy in a medical college.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 28 adult male cadavers(56 sides) were used and the correlative index were measured.METHODS: The blocking point was located at the convergent point of the interior edge of cartilage of the external acoustic canal, the anterior fringe of mastoid processes and the posterior fringe of mandible ramus, the needle must be thrust vertically to the median sagittal plane. The puncturing needle stopped until it was barred. A longitudinal incision was made from the puncturing point to mandibula angle, and skin, superficial fascia were cut separately. Then carotid superficial fascia was cut from the posterior fringe of parotidean. The facial nerve trunk and the posterior auricular artery were preserved in site. A blunt isolation was made along its incision. Jugular glomus was appeared. Then the correlative index were measured and dealt with statistics method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The puncturing point, angle and depth,the distance between facial nerve trunk and puncturing point, the position relationship between facial nerve and puncturing needle and the distance relationship between facial nerve and principal structures adjacent to it.RESULTS: The blocking point was located at the convergent point of the interior edge of the external acoustic canal, the anterior fringe of mastoid processes and the posterior fringe of mandible ramus, the needle must be thrust vertically to the median sagittal plane. On the left side, the puncturing depth was (19.91 ± 0.09) mm, On the right side, the puncturing depth was(19.28±0. 10) mm.CONCLUSION: The experimental study could provide accurate puncturing point, angle and depth for blocking the facial nerve and bring the blocking treatment into full play.