1.Protective Effect of Tongluo Baoshen Prescription-containing Serum on Lipopolysaccharide-induced Podocyte Injury of Rats
Yongfang LIU ; Tiantian YIN ; Huiyang LIU ; Rui HUANG ; Zhiying FENG ; Li ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(10):139-148
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Tongluo Baoshen prescription (TLBS)-containing serum on the rat podocyte injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and explore the potential mechanisms. MethodsSD rats were used to prepare the blank serum, losartan potassium-containing serum, and low-, medium-, and high-dose TLBS-containing sera. Rat podocytes were cultured in vitro, and the effects of drug-containing sera on podocyte viability were detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CKK-8) method. The optimal intervention volume fraction of drug-containing sera and the optimal concentration of LPS for inducing the podocyte injury were determined. Rat podocytes were grouped as follows: normal control (NC, 10% blank serum), model control (MC, 20.00 mg·L-1 LPS+10% black serum), losartan potassium (LP, 20.00 mg·L-1 LPS+10% losartan potassium-containing serum), low-dose TLBS (TLBS-L, 20.00 mg·L-1 LPS+10% low-dose TLBS-containing serum), medium-dose TLBS (TLBS-M, 20.00 mg·L-1 LPS+10% medium-dose TLBS-containing serum), and high-dose TLBS (TLBS-H, 20.00 mg·L-1 LPS+10% high-dose TLBS-containing serum), and the interventions lasted for 48 h. The ultrastructure of podocytes was observed under a transmission electron microscope. The podocyte apoptosis was detected by the terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) kit. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of gasdermin D N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT) in podocytes. The mRNA and protein levels of G protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 member B (GPRC5B), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p50, NF-κB p52, NF-κB p65, Rel B, c-Rel, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase-1), GSDMD-NT, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, nephrin, integrin α3, and integrin β1 in podocytes were determined by real-time quaritiative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot, respectively. ResultsCompared with the NC group, the MC group showed reduced podocyte protrusions and organelles, segmental missing of cell membranes, increased and swollen mitochondria, irregular nuclear membranes, light chromatin, increased TUNEL fluorescence-positive nuclei (P<0.01), obviously enhanced fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-NT, up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of GPRC5B, NF-κB p50, NF-κB p52, NF-κB p65, Rel B, c-Rel, NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD-NT, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.01), and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of nephrin, integrin α3, and integrin β1 (P<0.01) in podocytes. Compared with the MC group, the LP, TLBS-M, and TLBS-H groups showed improved ultrastructure of podocytes with increased protrusions, intact cell membranes, reduced organelles, and alleviated mitochondrial swelling, decreased TUNEL fluorescence-positive nuclei (P<0.01), weakened fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-NT, down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of GPRC5B, NF-κB p50, NF-κB p52, NF-κB p65, Rel B, c-Rel, NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD-NT, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.01), and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of nephrin, integrin α3, and integrin β1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, the changes above were the most obvious in the TLBS-H group. ConclusionThe TLBS-containing serum can regulate the GPRC5B/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway to inhibit pyroptosis, thereby ameliorating the podocyte injury induced by LPS.
2.Study on the Mechanism of Tongluo Baoshen Decoction Intervening IgA Nephropathy Rats
Yongfang LIU ; Rui HUANG ; Huiyang LIU ; Jianfeng DAI ; Yinghua LIU ; Xingyu LIU ; Zhiying FENG ; Tiantian YIN ; Li ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(8):105-113
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of Tongluo Baoshen Prescription on IgA nephropathy rats;To explore its mechanism.Methods Totally 130 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group(20 rats)and a modeling group(110 rats).After establishing the IgA nephropathy model,the modeling group was further randomly divided into the model group,losartan potassium group and Tongluo Baoshen Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 20 rats in each group.Tongluo Baoshen Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups were administered at dosages of 5.3,10.6 and 21.2 g/kg respectively,the losartan potassium group was given with the dosage of 5 mg/kg,the normal group and model group were given an equivalent amount of distilled water by gavage once daily.Blood,urine and kidney tissue samples were collected after 4 and 8 weeks of administration.The hemoglobin content was detected,urinary IL-1β,integrin α3β1 and serum albumin contents were detected by ELISA,and the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,the apoptosis of renal tissue at 8 weeks of administration was detected by TUNEL staining,the expression of C3c in renal tissue was detected by immunofluorescence,the co-expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1,NLRP3 and Nephrin were detected by immunofluorescence double labeling,the expression of Gprc5b and Nephrin in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group rats showed significantly increased contents of urinary IL-1β and integrin α3β1(P<0.01),with further increases in urinary integrin α3β1 over time(P<0.05);the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),and the proportion of apoptosis-positive cells in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),immunofluorescence results revealed that C3c exhibited granular and clumpy high-intensity deposition in the mesangial area and capillary loops of the glomeruli(P<0.01),immunofluorescence double labeling showed that the expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1 and NLRP3 in renal tissue increased(P<0.01),while Nephrin expression significantly decreased(P<0.01),immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the positive expression of Gprc5b in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),while Nephrin significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the urinary IL-1β and integrin α3β1 contents in the losartan potassium group and Tongluo Baoshen Prescription groups reduced after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment(P<0.05,P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the proportion of apoptosis-positive cells in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05),the C3c deposition in renal tissue was diminished(P<0.05,P<0.01),immunofluorescence double labeling showed that the expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1 and NLRP3 in renal tissue were decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Nephrin expression increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the positive expression of Gprc5b in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Nephrin expression increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Tongluo Baoshen Prescription has a protective effect on the kidney of IgA nephropathy rats,and it can improve podocyte injury.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the Gprc5b/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.
3.Investigation on the quality standard of pharmaceutical excipient steviol glycosides
Yongfang LI ; Qing YANG ; Cancan DING ; Qiao ZHANG ; Zhizhou JIANG ; Yongfu XIE ; Yuanyuan LI ; Shuai HUANG
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(5):527-532
Objective:To propose suggestions for the revision of quality standard of steviol glycosides through research on its major manufacturer's products.Methods:The inspection items in the current quality standards were inspected,with domestic and international quality standard of steviol glycosides.Results:Specific rotation was from-33.39° to-39.50°,pH was from 5.3 to 6.7,impurity absorbency was lower than 0.096 0,while the contents of weight loss on drying were lower than 5.0%,residue on ignition were lower than 0.043%,methanol residual were lower than 0.01%,ethanol residual were lower than 0.06%,residue on arsenic were lower than 0.000 054%,lead wasn't detected.The content of rebaudioside A and 13 kinds of steviol glycosides were 8.23%-68.48%and 85.78%-96.13%.Conclusion:The main components of the commercial steviol glycosides products were rebaudioside A and stevioside,with low safety risk of elemental impurities and solvent residues.It provided suggestions for the revision of quality standard of steviol glycosides in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
4.Investigation on the quality standard of pharmaceutical excipient steviol glycosides
Yongfang LI ; Qing YANG ; Cancan DING ; Qiao ZHANG ; Zhizhou JIANG ; Yongfu XIE ; Yuanyuan LI ; Shuai HUANG
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(5):527-532
Objective:To propose suggestions for the revision of quality standard of steviol glycosides through research on its major manufacturer's products.Methods:The inspection items in the current quality standards were inspected,with domestic and international quality standard of steviol glycosides.Results:Specific rotation was from-33.39° to-39.50°,pH was from 5.3 to 6.7,impurity absorbency was lower than 0.096 0,while the contents of weight loss on drying were lower than 5.0%,residue on ignition were lower than 0.043%,methanol residual were lower than 0.01%,ethanol residual were lower than 0.06%,residue on arsenic were lower than 0.000 054%,lead wasn't detected.The content of rebaudioside A and 13 kinds of steviol glycosides were 8.23%-68.48%and 85.78%-96.13%.Conclusion:The main components of the commercial steviol glycosides products were rebaudioside A and stevioside,with low safety risk of elemental impurities and solvent residues.It provided suggestions for the revision of quality standard of steviol glycosides in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
5.Study on the Mechanism of Tongluo Baoshen Decoction Intervening IgA Nephropathy Rats
Yongfang LIU ; Rui HUANG ; Huiyang LIU ; Jianfeng DAI ; Yinghua LIU ; Xingyu LIU ; Zhiying FENG ; Tiantian YIN ; Li ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(8):105-113
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of Tongluo Baoshen Prescription on IgA nephropathy rats;To explore its mechanism.Methods Totally 130 SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group(20 rats)and a modeling group(110 rats).After establishing the IgA nephropathy model,the modeling group was further randomly divided into the model group,losartan potassium group and Tongluo Baoshen Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups,with 20 rats in each group.Tongluo Baoshen Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups were administered at dosages of 5.3,10.6 and 21.2 g/kg respectively,the losartan potassium group was given with the dosage of 5 mg/kg,the normal group and model group were given an equivalent amount of distilled water by gavage once daily.Blood,urine and kidney tissue samples were collected after 4 and 8 weeks of administration.The hemoglobin content was detected,urinary IL-1β,integrin α3β1 and serum albumin contents were detected by ELISA,and the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,the apoptosis of renal tissue at 8 weeks of administration was detected by TUNEL staining,the expression of C3c in renal tissue was detected by immunofluorescence,the co-expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1,NLRP3 and Nephrin were detected by immunofluorescence double labeling,the expression of Gprc5b and Nephrin in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group rats showed significantly increased contents of urinary IL-1β and integrin α3β1(P<0.01),with further increases in urinary integrin α3β1 over time(P<0.05);the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),and the proportion of apoptosis-positive cells in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),immunofluorescence results revealed that C3c exhibited granular and clumpy high-intensity deposition in the mesangial area and capillary loops of the glomeruli(P<0.01),immunofluorescence double labeling showed that the expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1 and NLRP3 in renal tissue increased(P<0.01),while Nephrin expression significantly decreased(P<0.01),immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the positive expression of Gprc5b in renal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),while Nephrin significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the urinary IL-1β and integrin α3β1 contents in the losartan potassium group and Tongluo Baoshen Prescription groups reduced after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment(P<0.05,P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB p52,NF-κB p65,Rel B,c-Rel and Desmin in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the proportion of apoptosis-positive cells in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05),the C3c deposition in renal tissue was diminished(P<0.05,P<0.01),immunofluorescence double labeling showed that the expression of Gprc5b,Caspase-1 and NLRP3 in renal tissue were decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Nephrin expression increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the positive expression of Gprc5b in renal tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Nephrin expression increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Tongluo Baoshen Prescription has a protective effect on the kidney of IgA nephropathy rats,and it can improve podocyte injury.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the Gprc5b/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.
6.Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in IgA Nephropathy and Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Yongfang LIU ; Li ZHOU ; Huiyang LIU ; Rui HUANG ; Zhiying FENG ; Tiantian YIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(6):269-279
IgA nephropathy is recognized as the most common primary glomerular disease, with up to 20%-40% of patients developing end-stage kidney disease within 20 years of onset. The deposition of IgA1-containing immune complexes targeting glycosylation defects in the mesangial region and the subsequent inflammation caused by T lymphocyte activation are considered as the main causes of IgA nephropathy, and innate immunity is also involved in the pathogenesis. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a newly discovered pattern recognition receptor expressed in renal intrinsic cells such as renal tubular epithelial cells, mesangial cells, and podocytes. Activated by external stimuli, NLRP3 can form NLRP3 inflammasomes with apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC). The NLRP3 inflammasome can activate cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase-1), causing the maturation and release of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) involved in inflammation. Increasing evidence has suggested that NLRP3 inflammasomes are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of IgA nephropathy and associated with the damage of renal intrinsic cells such as podocytes, mesangial cells, endothelial cells, and renal tubular epithelial cells. Chinese medicine can regulate inflammatory cytokines and their signaling pathways by acting on NLRP3 inflammasomes and related molecules, exerting therapeutic effects on IgA nephropathy. This article introduces the role of NLRP3 inflammasomes in IgA nephropathy and reviews the clinical and experimental research progress of Chinese medicine intervention in IgA nephropathy via NLRP3 inflammasomes, aiming to provide a reference for further research and application of Chinese medicine intervention in the NLRP3 inflammasome as a new therapeutic target.
7.Da Vinci robot assisted total gastrectomy plus hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy for gastric carcinaoma
Wanbo HUANG ; Jianming XIE ; Jiabin YANG ; Yongfang YIN ; Haixiang DING ; Xiuchong YU ; Zhilong YAN
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(10):758-763
Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of robot assisted total gastrectomy plus hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy.Methods:The clinical data of 72 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer and undergoing total gastrectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from Nov 2021 to May 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into two groups: robot-assisted total gastrectomy (RATG) group, consisting of 30 patients, and laparoscopic assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) group, consisting of 42 patients . In the RATG group, the digestive tract was reconstructed by manual suture under the robot scope and Roux-Y reconstruction was performed . In LATG group, digestive tract reconstruction was performed using an in vitro stapler and Roux-Y. The clinicopathological data, perioperative indexes, and postoperative follow-up data of both groups were observed and analyzed.Results:All 72 patients successfully completed the operation without conversion to open laparotomy. The total operation time in RATG group was longer than that in LATG group [(235.2±25.8) min vs. (200.7±40.6) min, t=4.099, P<0.05)].RATG was superior to LATG group in terms of digestive tract reconstruction time, postoperative fluid intake time and hospitalization days,the difference was statistically significant [(36.9±3.0) min vs.(39.4±4.5) min, (4.2±0.5) d vs. (5.2±0.6) d、(9.5±1.6) d vs. (10.8±2.4)d, t=-2.554,-7.135,-2.595, all P<0.05]; In terms of postoperative pathology, the number of lymph node dissection in RATG group was higher than that in LATG group [(29.8±6.2) vs. (26.3±7.5), t=2.197, P<0.05]. Conclusion:The application of delayed disconnection hand-sewn esophagojejunostomy in Da Vinci robot total gastrectomy is safe and feasible for cure-intent total gastrectomy in patients of gastric carcinoma.
8.Changes in refractive power and ocular biometrics before and after the onset of myopia in children: the Anyang Childhood Eye Study
Menghai SHI ; Ying HUANG ; He LI ; Yongfang TU ; Lei LI ; Mengtian KANG ; Shifei WEI ; Yunyun SUN ; Lei YIN ; Ningli WANG ; Shiming LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(5):453-461
Objective:To analyze the trends in refractive error and ocular biological parameters in elementary school students over 5 years, and to investigate the patterns of change before and after myopia onset.Methods:A cohort study was adopted.A total of 1 986 first-grade students from the Anyang Childhood Eye Study were enrolled in this cohort study and their right eye data were taken for analysis, including 1 126 boys and 860 girls.Every year, cycloplegic autorefraction was performed with 1% cyclopentolate eyedrops to obtain the spherical equivalent (SE).The axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, mean corneal curvature (Km) and other parameters were obtained by ocular biometry.The lens refractive power (LP) was calculated using the Bennett formula.The subjects were assigned to persistent myopia group, non-myopia group and new onset myopia group.According to the age of myopia onset, the new onset myopia group was subdivided into the 8-, 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-year-old myopia groups to compare the differences in refractive error and ocular bioparameters among groups at different time points of follow-up.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University (No.TRECKY2018-030).Written informed consent form was obtained from the guardians of each subject.Results:All children had a gradual SE drift toward myopia and a gradual increase in the AL with age, and there were significant differences in SE and AL between adjacent follow-up ages within the three groups (all at P<0.05).The earlier the onset of myopia, the higher the myopia SE and the longer the AL of the eye at the same follow-up age, the differences in SE between adjacent groups were statistically significant (all at P<0.05), and the differences in AL between adjacent groups at the follow-up age of 8 to 12 years were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).In the nonmyopia group, SE drifted toward emmetropia at a slow and steady rate of (-0.23±0.27)D/year, and AL also increased slowly and steadily at (0.18±0.13)mm/year.In the new onset myopia group, the changes in SE in the third, second, and first years before myopia onset were (-0.32±0.25), (-0.45±0.33), and (-0.98±0.44)D, and the increases in AL were (0.25±0.12), (0.32±0.15), and (0.48±0.19)mm, respectively.Both SE and AL change rates began to accelerate before myopia onset and slowed down after myopia onset, with statistically significant differences in the overall comparison of SE and AL change rates at different time intervals before and after myopia onset (all at P<0.001).The AL at myopia onset in boys was (24.11±0.70)mm, which was longer than (23.60±0.66)mm in girls ( t=159.71, P<0.01).LP decreased with age in all groups, with a faster rate before the age of 9 years and a slower rate after the age of 9 years.The mean decrease rate in LP was (-0.48±0.19), (-0.44±0.20), (-0.49±0.16), (-0.51±0.18), and (-0.48±0.19)D/year in the persistent myopia group and 8~11-year-old myopia group, respectively, which were significantly faster than -0.42±0.17 D/year in 12-year-old myopia group and (0.37±0.15)D/year in nonmyopia group (all at P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in Km among groups at different follow-up ages (all at P>0.05). Conclusions:The AL begins to grow at an accelerated rate 3 years before myopia onset, and the increase rate of the AL slows down after the onset of myopia, but it is still significantly faster than that of non-myopic children.In this process, the decrease in LP plays a compensatory role; there is no significant change in corneal curvature.The AL of males at the onset of myopia is longer than that of females at the same age.AL is an important indicator for the prevention and control of myopia.It is important to consider gender differences and to pay more attention to the growth rate when assessing AL.
9.Application of virtual reality technology in reducing the intraoperative pain in patients receiving hepatic arterial chemoembolization:a randomized controlled study
Youhua XUE ; Yongfang YAO ; Lan GAO ; Zhengli HUANG ; Ying YANG ; Boyuan WANG ; Xiaoyan WANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2024;33(10):1125-1130
Objective To explore the effect of virtual reality(VR)technology on relieving intraoperative pain in patients receiving transcatheter hepatic artery chemoembolization(TACE).Methods A total of 76 patients,who received TACE from June 2023 to January 2024,were enrolled in this study.Using random number table method,the patients were divided into control group(n=38)and study group(n=38).Intraoperative routine nursing was carried out for the patients of the control group,while on the basis of routine nursing additional VR technology was adopted to relieve the intraoperative pain for the patients of the study group.The degree of intraoperative pain,anxiety symptoms,incidence of intraoperative adverse reactions and patient satisfaction with nursing were compared between the two groups.Results The degree of intraoperative pain in the study group was lower than that in the control group,but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The analgesic effect of VR was much obvious in patients aged≤55 years and in patients with vascular invasion of liver cancer(P<0.05).The anxiety score in the study group was lower than that in the control group,the patient satisfaction score in the study group was higher than that in the control group,and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(both P<0.05).No statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions existed between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Immersive VR technology can effectively reduce the degree of intraoperative pain in patients receiving TACE,especially in patients aged ≤55 years.Besides,VR technology can also reduce the anxiety degree of patients,and improve the degree of intraoperative patient satisfaction with nursing.
10.Improvement of sleep by Jiawei Tianwang Buxin Dan and its mechanisms in simulated model of plateau exposure in rats
Jiaying HUANG ; Jingcao LI ; Yongfang GU ; Yumeng LIU ; Renhong QIU ; Yang ZHANG ; Rui XUE ; Shuo LI ; Huajin DONG ; Yanxin WANG ; Youzhi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(6):401-409
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Jiawei Tianwang Buxin Dan(JWBXD)on insomnia in rats exposed to simulated high-altitude conditions.METHODS ① Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control,model,model+Jiawei Tianwang Buxin Dan(JWBXD,9.6 mg·kg-1),model+Tianwang Buxin Dan(TWBXD,9.6 mg·kg-1),and model+diazepam(DZP,3 mg·kg-1)groups.Rats,except for the normal control group,were subjected to a low-pressure,low-oxygen animal experimental chamber simulating a 5000 m altitude.Respective drugs were ig administrated once daily at 9:00 for seven days,and signal acquisition and sleep analysis were conducted by a wireless physiological sig-nal telemetry system.②Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups as described in ①.Through-out the experiment,the general condition and body mass of the rats were observed daily.Drug adminis-tration lasted for seven days,and grip strength was tested one hour after the final administration.ELISA was used to measure the levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hor-mone(ACTH),corticosterone(CORT),and melatonin(MLT)in serum.Western blotting was performed to measure the expression levels of core clock proteins period circadian regulator 2(Per2),circadian locomotor output cycles(Clock),cryptochrome 2(Cry2),brain-muscle arnt-like protein 1(Bmal1),nuclear receptor subfamily 1,group D member 1(NR1D1),glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β),as well as acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase(ASMT)in the hypothalamus and pineal gland,respectively.RESULTS ① Compared with the normal control group,the model group exhibited a decrease in total sleep time(P<0.01),an increase in wakefulness(P<0.01),a significant reduction in slow wave sleep(SWS)(P<0.05)and the mean bouts duration(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,both DZP and JWBXD(P<0.01)prolonged sleep time and suppressed wakefulness(P<0.01)in the hypoxic envi-ronment.DZP and JWBXD prolonged SWS(P<0.05,P<0.01),while TWBXD had no significant effect.JWBXD improved the mean bouts duration of SWS in the model rats(P<0.01),whereas no such improvement was observed in model+DZP and model+TWBXD groups.② Compared with the normal control group,the model group showed a significant decrease in forelimb grip strength(P<0.01),increased levels of serum ACTH(P<0.05),CRH,and CORT(P<0.01),and decreased MLT levels(P<0.05).The expression levels of Per2,Cry2,GSK-3β,and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus were downregu-lated(P<0.05,P<0.01),while Bmal1 and Clock were upregulated(P<0.05,P<0.01).ASMT expression in the pineal gland was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,JWBXD and TWBXD enhanced forelimb grip strength(P<0.01),reduced serum CORT and ACTH levels(P<0.05),decreased CRH levels(P<0.01),and restored MLT levels(P<0.01).JWBXD upregulated the expression levels of Per2,Cry2,GSK-3β and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus(P<0.05,P<0.01),but downregulated Bmal1 and Clock expression(P<0.05,P<0.01).TWBXD downregulated Bmal1 expression in the hypothalamus(P<0.01)and increased NR1D1 expression(P<0.05).DZP significantly enhanced the expression levels of Per2,Cry2 and NR1D1 in the hypothalamus(P<0.01).JWBXD,TWBXD and DZP improved ASMT expression in the pineal gland(P<0.05).CONCLUSION JWBXD can improve sleep structure and prolong the duration of SWS in rats exposed to simulated high-altitude conditions.The mechanisms may involve the regulation of core clock protein expressions in the hypothalamus,promotion of mela-tonin secretion,and inhibition of HPA axis hyperactivity.

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