Protective Effect Of Zuojin Pills On Rat Gastrointestinal Injury Induced By Dexamethasone

Objective Rat models undergoing gastrointestinal injury induced by dexamethasone were established, in order to explore protective effect and related mechanisms of Zuojin Pills, separated prescriptions of Zuojin Pills and its active ingredients on gastrointestinal injury induced by dexamethasone.Methods(1) The experiment was carried out with different administration modes and dosages of dexamethasone, to determine the optimal mode and dosage of administration for establishing animal models; ulcer index, activity of gastric mucosa and secretion of gastric juice and acid were detected, to compar classical ethanol models.(2) effect of Zuojin Pills on gastrointestinal injury.(3) The effect Zuojin Pills, separated prescriptions of Zuojin Pills(coptis and fructus evodiae) and its(berberine and total alkaloids) on healing of gastric ulcer(GU) and neurohumoral regulation, to mechanisms of Zuojin Pills.Results(1) Rats were continuously 1.0 mg·kg-1 dexamethasone for 7 days to establish ideal gastrointestinal injury models; compared with blank control group, rats in groups increase pepsin activity, decrease p H of gastric juicebinding mucus volume, ulcerative colitis and other gastrointestinal mucosal and functional injury, were similar with those induced by ethyl alcohol. Intragastric administration of 1.0 mg·kg-1 dexamethasone decrease calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) content, distribution of epithelial growth factor(EGF) and expression of epithelial growth factor receptor(EGFR).(2) Zuojin Pills can gastrointestinal injury induced by dexamethasone, repair gastric mucosal injury and gastric ulcer, decrease volume of gastric juice and pepsin activity, increase p H of gastric juice and gastricbinding mucus volume. Zuojin Pills can reverse the increase glutathione(GSH) content and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) activity induced by dexamethasone, increase EGF distribution and EGFR expression.(3) Zuojin Pills and of coptis, fructus evodiae decoction, berberine and total alkaloids can decrease ulcer index, and have anti-ulcer effect. The coptisfructus evodiaetotal alkaloids Zuojin Pillsberberine. Zuojin Pills, berberine and total alkaloids can decrease TNF-α content in gastric mucosal tissues, contents of norepinephrine(NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and dopamine(DA) in brain tissues, contents of epinephrine(E) and norepinephrine(NE) in adrenal tissues. Conclusion The ideal gastrointestinal injury models can be established continuous intragastric administration of 1.0 mg·kg-1 dexamethasone for 7 days; Zuojin Pills can effectively inhibit gastrointestinal injury induced by dexamethasone, and the active are alkaloids berberine. The mechanisms inhibit gastric acid secretion, production and expression of TNF-α and neurotransmitter, etc.