Influence of Astragalus Injection on Expressions of Apoptosis-associated Protein in Thymocytes of Rats with Experimental Severe Pneumonia

Objective:To investgate the influence of Astragalus injection on expressions of apoptosis-associated protein cleaved caspase-3,Bcl-2 and Bax in thymocytes of rats with experimental severe pneumonia.Methods:40 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group(n=8),model group(n=8),astragalus high dose group(n=8),astragalus medium dose group(n=8) and astragalus low dose group(n=8).The rat model of severe pneumonia was made by intratracheally instilling with Klebsiella pneumoniae suspension 0.3mL per animal.TUNEL method was used to assess the apoptosis of thymocytes.The expressions of cleaved caspase-3,Bcl-2 and Bax in thympcytes of rats with experimental severe pneumonia were detected with western blotting.Results:The severe pneumonia can result in the rise of apoptosis and the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax,and reduce the expressions of Bcl-2 of thymocytes and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.The changes can be improved significantly by high dose astragalus injection.Conclusion:Astragalus injection can significantly reduce the apoptosis and expressions of cleaved caspase-3 of thymocytes in rats with experimental severe pneumonia,and that may be closely associated with reducing the expressions of Bax and increasing the expressions of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax of thymocytes in rats with severe pneumonia.