Objective To evaluate the protective effects of oxymatrine injection on rats with endotoxic shock. Methods Wistar rat model of endotoxic shock was produced in this study. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=8), endotoxic shock group (n=8) and oxymatrine injection treatment group (n=8). Fifteen min?utes after the infusion of LPS (15 mg/kg) from femoral vein, oxymatrine was injected from femoral vein in treatment group, then we observed the mean arterial pressure (MAP) for six hours. At the end of experiment blood samples were harvested for measurement of urea and creatinine (Cr), which reflect renal function. Also contents of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-αin the renal ho?mogenate were detected. Results Oxymatrine can prevent progressive decrease of MAP in endotoxin shock treatment group. The contents of plasma urea and Cr were significantly higher in endotoxin shock group than those of control group. The contents of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-αin renal homogenate increased obviously, but after the injection of oxymatrine, the contents of urea and Cr significantly decreased in treatment group, also IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly declined. Conclusion Oxymatrine provides protection at renal function after endotoxin shock, and its mechanism may be related to inhibit the releasing of inflammatory cytokines in kidney.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of ascorbic acid (VC), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on in vitro culture of sheep ovarian cortical tissue. Using 2 x 2 x 2 factor experimental design, we cultured sheep ovarian cortex fragments in 8 media with MEM (control), MEM+VC (50 microg/mL), MEM +EGF (100 ng/mL), MEM+FSH (50 ng/mL), MEM+VC+EGF, MEM+VC+FSH, MEM+EGF+FSH, MEM+VC+EGF+FSH. After 0 (non-cultured control), 2, 6, 12 days of culture, the pieces of ovarian cortex were proceed to histological and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) examination, or observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The percentages of developing follicles were increased (P < 0.05) and the percentages of healthy follicles were reduced (P < 0.05). When compared to the MEM group, the addition of FSH with VC or EGF promoted a significant increase of follicles diameter and follicles survival rate (P < 0.05), and stimulated the proliferation of granulosa cells. After 12 days of culture, medium supplemented with MEM+VC+EGF resulted the lowest proportion of developing follicles (49.3% +/- 3.2%), follicles diameter((32.3 +/- 2.3) microm), follicles survival rate (41.6% +/- 3.1%) and the proportion of PCNA stained follicles (26.4% +/- 1.2%, P < 0.05). In contrast, MEM+VC+EGF+FSH resulted the highest follicles diameter ((42.5 +/- 5.1) microm), follicles survival rate (59.7% +/- 6.1%) and proportion of PCNA stained follicles (43.5% +/- 4.1%, P < 0.05). Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured in VC+EGF+FSH group, while follicles cultured in MEM+VC+EGF groups showed more degeneration characters. In conclusion, the addition of VC and EGF to culture medium inhibited follicular development, VC+EGF+FSH was the most effective treatment to maintain follicular integrity and promote sheep primordial follicular activation and growth during in vitro culture.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Culture Techniques ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Ovarian Follicle ; growth & development ; Ovary ; growth & development ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Sheep