Effects of Qidantongmai tablets on gene expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in artery vessels of experimental arterosclerotic rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of QiDanTongMai Tablets (QDTMT) on the gene expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 in artery vessel of experimental arterosclerotic rats. METHODS: Seventy two healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 12 rats per group: model group, control group, simvastatin group, QDTMT low dosage group (QDTMTL), QDTMT moderate dosage group (QDTMTM), QDTMT high dosage group (QDTMTH). The model of arterosclerosis (AS) was established by feeding high cholesterol diet and vitamin D3. Half quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was used to detect ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 gene expression in artery vessel. The changes of gene expression of ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 in artery vessels in each group were analyzed. RESULTS: ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 mRNA expression levels in the model group were significantly higher than those of control group ( P 0.01). While compared with model group, the ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 mRNA expression levels in each medicated group were significantly lower ( P 0.01 or P 0.05). QDTMTH group had significantly better results than QDTMTL group ( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: QDTMT can downregualte the gene expression of ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 in artery vessels of experimental arterosclerotic rats, which may account for the anti arteriosclerosis effects of QDTMT.