[Effect of guzhen recipe on glucocorticoid receptor in senile rate thymocyte]

The effects of Guzhen Recipe (GZ) which composed of Polygonum multiflorum, Cistanche deserticole, Rubus chiagii etc, on the number of thymocyte glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) sites, the GCR nuclear translocation rate, and the activity of serum thymic factors etc in senile rats were observed. The results showed: The number of thymocyte GCR sites, the contents of cytoplasmic protein, nuclear RNA and DNA, the thymus weight/body weight ratio and the serum thymic factors in senile rats were significantly decreased, while thymocyte GCR nuclear translocation rate increased obviously than that of young control rats. GZ, however, was capable of improving the above-mentioned changes of thymus in senile rats markedly, suggesting that GZ might weaken the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on the thymus by means of suppressing the translocation activity of GCR from cytoplasm to nucleus in senile rats, thus enhance thymus-dependent immune function in senile rats.