[Effects of milkvetch root on neuro-endocrino-immune network in asthma model rat]

To study the change and the effect of milkvetch root (MR) on neuro-endocrino-immune (NEI) network related indexes in repeated asthmatic attack model rats.

Rats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal group (A), the model group (B), and the three treated groups (C, D, E) treated with low, medium and high dose of the MR by gastrogavage. The corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA expression in hypothalamus was tested by Realtime-PCR, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were detected with radioimmunoassay, serum IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the lung tissue pathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

As compared with the normal group, in the rats 3 weeks after modeling, CRH mRNA expression, blood IFN-gamma and plasma ACTH were unchanged, serum level of CORT raised significantly (P<0.05), IL-6 and IL-4 showed an increasing trend but without significance. Low dose of MR could promote the production of serum CORT, and hight dose of MR could down-regulate the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-6 (P<0.01). No significant difference was found in comparison of pathological changes of lung tissue among the groups.

Rats suffered from repeated asthmatic attack have some disorders in indexes of NEI, MR could enhance the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis and adjust the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines to alleviate the inflammation of asthma.