Effect of Flos Buddlejae Granules on Apoptosis Factors Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and FasL in Lacrimal Gland Cells of Castrated Male Rabbits

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of different concentration Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules on apoptosis factors of lacrimal gland cells of castrated male rabbits, and study the treatment effects of Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules in the dry eye model of castrated male rabbits.

Methods Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) raw material was made into granules. Thirty healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups, six rabbits in each group. Group A: blank group, Group B: model group, Group C: Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granule group, Group D: placebo group, Group E: testosterone group. Except for group A, all rabbits underwent removal of bilateral testis and epididymis. Rabbits in group C were administered Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules (100 mg/kg), three times per day; rabbits in group D were administered normal saline, three times per day. Rabbits in group E were injected with testosterone propionate (0.5 mL/kg) in the thigh muscle, every 3 days. All rabbits were tested by Schirmer I test (SIT) and tear film break-up time (BUT) before operation and 4 weeks after operation. After 4 weeks, all rabbits were sacrificed by air embolism and clipping of the lacrimal gland. Apoptosis factors, including Bax, Bcl-2, Fas and FasL of lacrimal gland cells were characterized by immunohistochemistry, and resulting data were statistically analyzed.

Results(1) Comparison of SIT and BUT before and after operation: There were statistically significant differences between groups B and D (P < 0.01), but not among other groups (P > 0.05). (2) Comparison of apoptosis factors Bax, Bcl-2 Fas and FasL: In a comparison of groups B and D, there was no statistically significant difference after operation (P > 0.05). In a comparison of the other groups, there were statistically significant differences (P < 0.01). In comparisons among A, C and E groups, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05).

Conclusion Compared with androgen, Flos Buddlejae (Mi Meng Hua, 密蒙花) granules caused similar but slightly weaker depression of Bax, Fas and FasL, and increased expression of Bcl-2.