Effect of Gucixiao Cataplasm on Osteoarthritis Cartilage Cell Apoptosis in Rabbit Knee

Objective To observe the effect of Gucixiao cataplasm on osteoarthritis cartilage cell apoptosis,apoptosis gene bcl-2 and its inhibition gene bax in rabbit knee,and explore its mechanism.Methods Forty healthy Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into Gucixiao cataplasm group,Qizheng slake pain patch group,blank control group and the normal group.Gucixiao cataplasm group,Qizheng slake pain patch group and blank control group were prepared through the classic Videman fixed method to improve rabbit knee osteoarthritis models.Gucixiao cataplasm group and Qizheng slake pain patch group were applied with corresponding drugs,blank control group and the normal group group without any treatment for 5 weeks.After the death of animal,TUNEL method was used for the detection of cartilage cell apoptosis,and immunohistochemistry for the detection of particular cartilage bcl-2 and bax.Results Apoptosis rate of Gucixiao cataplasm group and Qizheng slake pain patch group was significant lower than blank control group(P0.05),bcl-2 expression in Gucixiao cataplasm group and Qizheng slake pain patch group was higher than blank control group(P0.05),bax expression was lower than blank control group(P0.05).Gucixiao cataplasm group and Qizheng slake pain patch group had no significant statistical difference.Conclusion Gucixiao cataplasm can inhibit osteoarthritis cartilage cell of excessive apoptosis in rabbit knee through up-regulation of bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of bax expression.This is one of mechanism for treating osteoarthritis by Gucixiao cataplasm.