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Protective effects of traditional Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (佐木阿汤) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia model rats

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Abstract

Objective

To explore the protective effects of Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (佐木阿汤, ZMAD) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) model rats.

Methods

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups by a random number table, including the normal, model, Rhodiola rosea L. (RRL) and ZMAD groups (10 in each group). Every group was raised in Lhasa to create a HAPC model except the normal group. After modeling, rats in the RRL and the ZMAD groups were administered intragastrically with RRL (20 mL/kg) and ZMAD (7.5 mL/kg) once a day for 2 months, respectively; for the normal and the model groups, 5 mL of distilled water was administered intragastrically instead of decoction. Then routine blood and hematologic rheology parameters were taken, levels of erythropoietin and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were tested, and ultrastructural change in the left ventricular myocardium was observed using transmission electron microscopy.

Results

Compared with the model group, ZMAD significantly reduced the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, whole blood viscosity at low/middle shear rates, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoretic time, erythropoietin and 8-OHdG levels, and also increased the erythrocyte deformation index (P<0.05). There was no difference in all results between the RRL and the ZMAD groups. The cardiac muscle fibers were well-protected, mitochondrial matrix swelled mildly and ultrastructure changes were less prominent in the ZMAD group compared with the model group.

Conclusion

ZMAD has significant protective effects on the blood parameters against HAPC, and also has the beneficial effect in protecting against myocardial injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Meng-qian Lu, Tian-yuan Yu, Steven Wong, Fan Pan, Si-tong Xian, Lin-feng Zhang & Bin-bin Yao

  2. Tibetan Traditional Medical College, Lhasa, 850000, China

    Nyima Tsring & Dorje Rinchen

  3. Department of Tuina, Beijing Massage Hospital, Beijing, 100035, China

    Jian-cong Wu

  4. Information Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Guo-yong Chen

  5. Tibet Academy of Tibetan Medicine, Lhasa, 850000, China

    Pasang Dekyi

  6. Center of Scientific Experiment, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Ying-qiu Mao

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  1. Meng-qian Lu
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Correspondence to Nyima Tsring or Tian-yuan Yu.

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81260567)

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Lu, Mq., Tsring, N., Yu, Ty. et al. Protective effects of traditional Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (佐木阿汤) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia model rats. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 908–915 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2500-7

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