Effect of Fuyuan capsule on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1, insulin-like growth factor-1, osteocalcin and type I collagen in rats with fractures

Objective To investigate the effect of Fuyuan capsule on expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), osteocalcin and type Ⅰ collagen in serum of rats with diabetic fractures. Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were divided into Fuyuan capsule group (group A, n=24, 8 rats in high, medium and low dose subgroups, respectively), insulin group (group B, n=8), model group (group C, n=8) and blank control group (group D, n=8). Except group D, the other groups were treated with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to induce diabetes. All rats were treated with reduction and external fixation with splint intervention after establishing left tibia upper oblique fracture models. Group A were treated with intragastric administration of Fuyuan capsule according to high, medium and low dose (1.23, 0.82, 0.41 g/kg). Group B were treated with 6-8 U insulin, while group C and group D were treated with local injection of normal saline.1 week, 3 weeks and 5 weeks after modeling, the expressions of TGF-β1, IGF-1, osteocalcin and type Ⅰ collagen in serum was detected.5 weeks after modeling, the rats were killed and the main organs were examined. Results The expression levels of TGF-β1 [(116.52±10.55), (117.25±10.37), (117.82±10.24) ng/L], IGF-1 [(3.16±0.42), (3.18±0.44), (3.21±0.41) ng/ml], osteocalcin [(3.03±0.91), (4.06±0.92), (12.05±2.91) U/ml] and type Ⅰ collagen [(5.32±1.15), (5.36±1.18), (14.34±2.15) pg/ml] in serum of group C at different time points were significantly lower than those in the other groups (F=10.369, 16.836, 20.583, 9.364, 9.025, 10.352, 9.684, 18.364, 22.536, 8.365, 14.834, 16.286, P=0.014, 0.000, 0.000, 0.019, 0.020, 0.014, 0.018, 0.000, 0.000, 0.022, 0.000, 0.000). 1 week after modeling, the levels of serum indexes in group B and three subgroups of group A were slightly higher than those in group D (P=0.752, 0.694, 0.633, 0.645, 0.160, 0.153, 0.120, 0.134, 0.853, 0.805, 0.820, 0.822, 0.909, 0.884, 0.857, 0.870). 3 and 5 weeks after modeling, the levels of serum indexes in group B and group A were significantly higher than those in group D (P=0.005, 0.003, 0.000, 0.000, 0.021, 0.024, 0.017, 0.018, 0.000, 0.000, 0.007, 0.007, 0.000, 0.000, 0.013, 0.014) but significantly lower than those in the medium and low dose groups of group A (P=0.032, 0.030, 0.045, 0.042, 0.033, 0.030, 0.036, 0.034, 0.016, 0.016, 0.015, 0.016, 0.020, 0.023, 0.017, 0.020, 0.002, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.021, 0.022, 0.020, 0.021, 0.003, 0.004, 0.003, 0.003, 0.010, 0.011, 0.010, 0.010). There were no significant differences in levels of serum indexes between the medium and low dose groups at different time points (P=0.988, 0.979, 0.978, 0.964, 0.966, 0.932, 1.000, 0.995, 0.985, 0.987, 0.946, 0.985). After 5 weeks of continuous administration, except there was 1 rat with local mild edema of renal proximal convoluted tubule epithelial cells in high dose group of group A, there were no abnormal pathological changes in the other groups. Conclusion Fuyuan Capsule can effectively regulate expression of TGF-β1, IGF-1, osteocalcin and type Ⅰ collagen in serum of rats with diabetic fractures, which is good for fracture healing. Key words: Fuyuan capsule; Rat; Fracture; Bone healing