Effect of panaxatriol on hematogenesis and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in radiation injured mice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the recovery effect of panaxatriol (PT) on myeloid hemopoiesis in radiation injured mice, and analyze the underlying mechanism. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Animal Center of Shandong University, Jinan, China, during March to September 2006. Forty-five inbred albino mice were separated randomly into 3 groups: control group, radiation group, and radiation + PT group (200 mg/kg/d, 3 weeks). Peripheral blood cells were detected by globuli meter, CD34+ cells in bone marrow were detected by flow cytometry, and the protein expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was detected by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The numbers of peripheral blood cells and bone marrow CD34+ cells, and the expression of GM-CSF in the radiation group were lower than in the control group. After treatment with PT, the numbers of peripheral blood cells and CD34+ cells, and the expression of GM-CSF increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Panaxatriol can relieve myelosuppression induced by radiation injury. The abilities of regulating the expression of hemopoietic growth factor GM-CSF and promoting the maturation of bone marrow cells may be responsible for some of these beneficial effects.