Abstract

To explore the effect of nux vomica on three kinds of chondrocyte apoptosis models. In the rabbit chondrocyte culture system, the rabbits were divided into normal group, sodium nitroprusside group, all-trans retinoic acid group, tumour necrosis factor alpha group, nux vomica+sodium nitroprusside group, nux vomica+all-trans retinoic acid group, nux vomica+tumour necrosis factor alpha group on the basis of sodium nitroprusside group, all-trans retinoic acid group and tumour necrosis factor alpha group, respectively. After 24 h of culture, the apoptosis of chondrocytes was quantitatively detected by AnnexinV/propidium iodide two-parameter method, and the deoxyribonucleic acid content and the function of collagen and proteoglycan synthesis were measured by isotope labeling 3H thymidine, 3H-Pro and 35S-sodium sulfate incorporation method. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay was used to observe the proliferation changes of three kinds of chondrocyte apoptosis models. Western blotting was used to observe the effect of nux vomica on second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase and B-cell lymphoma 2 proteins in three apoptosis models of chondrocytes. The apoptosis rate of sodium nitroprusside group, all-trans retinoic acid group and tumour necrosis factor alpha group was raised than that of control group, while this in nux vomica+sodium nitroprusside group and nux vomica+all-trans retinoic acid group was reduced than that in sodium nitroprusside group and all-trans retinoic acid group, respectively. The synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, proteoglycan and collagen in sodium nitroprusside group, all-trans retinoic acid group and tumour necrosis factor alpha group were decreased than those in normal group. Nux vomica can inhibit the apoptosis of sodium nitroprusside and all-trans retinoic acid chondrocytes, and this mechanism may be realized by up-regulating the expression of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase and B-cell lymphoma 2 to regulate mitochondrial related pathways.