Objective　To study the mechanisms of Pericarpium Arecae. Methods　A total of Wistar rats were randomly divided into Pericarpium Arecae group and control group, Pericarpium Arecae decoction or distilled water were given respectively. Changes of gastrointestinal motility rats were assayed by Dextran blue-2000 after 1 and 6 hours. The distributions of SP and VIP in antrum and jejunum were investigated by immunohistochemistry assay. Results　The gastrointestinal motility of rats was markedly enhanced (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The expressions of SP increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and the expressions of VIP decreased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in antrum and jejunum of rats at 1 and 6 h after Pericarpium Arecae decoction was given. The changes were more obvious at 1 h than at 6 h. Conclusion　The kinetogenic effect of Pericarpium Arecae is closely correlated to the increase of SP expression and the decrease of VIP expression in gastrointestinal tract.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of recombinant human hepatopoietin (rhHPO) and partial hepatectomy on rapidly induced expression of immediate early gene.

METHODSWe investigated the different gene expression within 1 hour after 2/3 partial hepatectomy by representational difference analysis and in primary cultured hepatocytes system.

RESULTSIn the expressed sequence tag (EST) library, we identified that most of these genes were immediate early gene, and found one new gene PC3 that might be associated to liver regeneration in the EST library. Moreover, PC3 gene was rapidly induced after 2/3 partial hepatectomy and the expressing peak was within 1~2 hours after operation. HPO can rapidly induce the expression of these genes (c-fos, LRF-1, and PC3, etc.) in primarily cultured rat hepatocyte, which might be one of HPO molecular mechanism on stimulating hepatocyte proliferation.

CONCLUSIONSrhHPO and partial hepatectomy can rapidly induce the expression of immediate early gene. PC3 gene is immediate early gene related to liver regeneration.

Animals ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Liver Regeneration ; genetics ; Proprotein Convertases ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology