icaritin and Vascular-Calcification

To explore the effect of icaritin on preventing the vascular calcification in mouse induced by vitamin D2.
 Methods: Fifty male C57BL mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n=10) and a model group (n=40). Mice in model group were treated with gradient-concentration of icaritin for 8 weeks. Then, they were consecutively treated with vitamin D2 for 4 days. Meanwhile, mice in negative control group were treated with the same dosage of PBS. At the end of the treatment, aortae were collected to examine the concentration of Ca, the area of calcification and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Runx2.
 Results: Compared with the negative control group, the weight of mice and the concentration of Ca in the positive control (vitamin D2+0 mg/kg icaritin) group declined significantly (P<0.05) after injection of vitamin D2. Compared with the positive control group, the Ca concentration, the area of calcification, and the expression of Runx2 were significantly declined at the middle dosage of icaritin (vitamin D2+0.2 mg/kg icaritin) group (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Icaritin could effectively prevent the vascular calcification in mice.. 目的：探讨中药单体淫羊藿素(icaritin，ICT)对预防腹腔注射维生素D2诱导发生的血管钙化小鼠模型的影响。方法：将50只雄性C57BL小鼠随机分为阴性对照组(n=10)和模型组(n=40)，模型组给予不同剂量ICT进行为期8周的ICT预防性干预后，通过腹腔连续注射4 d维生素D2进行血管钙化诱导，诱导完成后给予为期1周的维持用药。阴性对照组同期注射同剂量的PBS。诱导结束后处死各组小鼠，取出主动脉，检测小鼠主动脉血管钙化面积、钙含量及主动脉中α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin，α-SMA)及Runx2的表达。结果：给予维生素D2诱导后，与阴性对照组相比，模型组小鼠体重均有不同程度下降，且血管内钙含量显著提高(P<0.05)，提示血管钙化模型建立成功；与阳性对照(维生素D2+0 mg/kg ICT)组相比，中浓度剂量(维生素D2+0.2 mg/kg ICT)组ICT的血管钙含量显著降低(P<0.05)，且血管钙化面积减少及Runx2的表达水平降低效果较其他两组更为显著。结论：ICT可有效预防小鼠血管钙化的发生。.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Flavonoids; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Vascular Calcification