Study of protection mechanisms of Shenlingfang on gastric mucosal lesion in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis

Objective To research of protection mechanisms of Shenlingfang on gastric mucosal lesion in rats with adjuvant- induced arthritis( AA). Methods 10 of 60 Wistar rats were randomly as control group,the rest rats were established AA model by complete Freund's adjuvant. 30 AA model rats were randomly divided into model group,ranitidine group and Shenlingfang group,10 rats in each group. Rats in ranitidine group and Shenlingfang group separately received intragastric administration of ranitidine capsule solution and Shenlingfang. Rats in normal group and model group received intragastric administration of isometric distilled water for twenty- eight days. After 28 days,Rats in ranitidine group and Shenlingfang group received abdominal subcutaneous injection of indomethacin for further inducing drug- induced gastric mucosal injury model. The gastric mucosa pathological changes were observed by optical microscopy,apoptosis of gastric mucosa was measured by TUNEL assay. Results Gastric mucosa of rats in control group had clear hierarchy,intact epithelium structure and neatly arranged glands. Gastric mucosa of rats in model group had significantly impaired,shedding epithelial cells,incomplete epithelial structure,some broken mucosa,local structural disorder glands,more debris and exudate of epithelial cells in mucous membranes surface and glandular cavity. Apoptotic index of gastric mucosa in model group was significantly increased as compared with that in control group( P 0. 05). Gastric mucosa of rats in ranitidine group and Shenlingfang group had less shedding epithelial cells,mucosal vascular congestion,a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. Apoptotic index of gastric mucosa in ranitidine group and Shenlingfang group was significantly decreased as compared with that in model group( P 0. 05). The difference was not statistically significant between groups( P 0. 05). Conclusion Shenlingfang has obvious protective effect on gastric mucosal lesion in rats with adjuvant- induced arthritis,it plays a role in gastric mucosal protection by increasing cell proliferation,reducing apoptosis and inhibiting gastric mucosal cell damage.