[The influence of Matrine on apoptosis of fibroblasts and the expression of apoptotic modulation related protein in hypertrophic scar of rabbit ear].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Matrine on apoptosis of fibroblasts and the expression of apoptotic modulation related protein in the hypertrophic scar. METHODS: Hypertrophic scar was produced on the ear of 24 New Zealand white rabbits, which were employed as the model, and were randomly and equally divided into control (CC) and Matrine (M) groups (12 in each group). Matrine (50 g/L) was injected into the ear scar in M group and with normal saline in C group once every four days. At 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks after the injection, the apoptotic fibroblast count in the scar was determined by TUNEL method, and the expressions of apoptosis related modulation proteins p53, bcl-2, bax were detected by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: The apoptotic fibroblast count was much larger in M group than that in C group at all test time points (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the bax expression was increased and that of p53 and bcl-2 was decreased significantly in M group. In adding, the scar became flat in M group. CONCLUSION: Matrine might obviously enhance the fibroblast apoptosis in rabbit ear hypertrophic scar, and up-regulate the expression of apoptosis related modulation protein bax and down-regulate the expression of p53 and Bcl-2.