Effects Of Astragalus Membranaceus On The Apoptosis Of Intestinal Mucosal Associated Lymphocytes In Septic Rats

Objective:To investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the apoptosis ofintestinal mucosal associated lymphocytes in septic rats.Methods:Sepsis was replicated to72healthy, weighing (25020g) male SD rats using CLP,then the72rats were randomly divided into3groups: sham CLP group, sepsis group,Astragalus membranaceus treatment group. At the time of12h,24h and72h after themodel was completed, the rats were taken and retained Peyer’s patches (PP), upperintestine ileocecal and intestinal mucous lavage fluid, respectively. The apoptosisrates of lymphocytes of Peyer’s patches were detected by TUNEL. The intestinalimmunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were detected by ELISA. It was evaluated byimmunohistochemistry staining that the change in the number of immunoglobulinA-secretory (sIgA) cells and the positive expressive situation of Caspase-3protein inlymphocytes of Peyer’s patches.Results:1. The apoptosis rate of lymphocytes of Peyer’s patchesIn shame CLP group, the apoptosis rate at the12h,24h and72h time wererelatively low and non-statistical significance (P>0.05). In Astragalus membranaceustreatment group and sepsis group, the apoptosis rate of lymphocytes of Peyer’spatches were higher at the12h,24h and72h time than that in shame CLP group (P<0.05), respectively. The apoptosis rate of the two groups was the highest at the12htime and decreased since then. The apoptosis rate of the two groups at the72h timewas the lowest, but the apoptosis rate was still prominently higher than that in shameCLP group (P <0.05). At each time, the apoptosis rate in sepsis group was slightlyhigher than that in Astragalus membranaceus treatment group (P <0.05).2. The change in the number of sIgA cellsIn shame CLP group, it was no difference that the change in the number of sIgA cells at the12h,24h and72h time (P>0.05). In Astragalus membranaceus treatmentgroup and sepsis group, the number of sIgA cells was smaller than that in shame CLPgroup at the12h,24h and72h time (P <0.05). The number of sIgA cells was thesmallest at the12h time, increased since then and reached the peak in the72h time. Inspite of this, the number of sIgA cells at the72h time was smaller than that in shameCLP group (P <0.05). At each time, the number of sIgA cells in sepsis group wassmaller than that in astragalus membranaceus treatment group (P <0.05).3. Positive expressive situation of Caspase-3protein in lymphocytes of Peyer’spatchesIn shame CLP group, positive expression of Caspase-3protein in lymphocytesof Peyer’s patches at the12h,24h and72h time were all relatively low andnon-statistical significance (P>0.05). In astragalus membranaceus treatment groupand sepsis group, positive expressions of Caspase-3protein in lymphocytes of Peyer’spatches were prominently higher than that in shame CLP group at the12h,24h and72h time (P <0.05). The expression level was the highest at the12h time, decreasedsince then and reached the lowest point in the72h time (P <0.05). In spite of this, theexpression level at the72h time was higher than that in shame CLP group (P <0.05).At each time, the expression level in sepsis group was higher than that in astragalusmembranaceus treatment group (P <0.05).4. Change in the intestinal IgA levelsIn shame CLP group, there was no significant difference that concentration ofIgA in the intestine at the12h,24h and72h time (P>0.05). In Astragalusmembranaceus treatment group and sepsis group, the concentration of IgA in intestinewere prominently lower than that in shame CLP group at the12h,24h and72h time(P <0.05), respectively. The concentration of IgA was the lowest at the12h time,increased since then and reached the peak point in the72h time (P <0.05). In spite ofthis, the concentration of IgA at the72h time was lower than that in shame CLP group(P <0.05). At each time, the concentration of IgA in sepsis group was lower than thatin Astragalus membranaceus treatment group (P <0.05).Conclusion:The Astragalus membranaceus could effectively inhibited the excessive apoptosis of intestinal mucosal associated lymphocytes, protected the immunologicbarrier of intestine and has improved intestine mucosa immune function in septic rats.