AIM: To investigate the effects of QiDanTongMai Tablets (QDTMT) on the content of nitric oxide in the serum and the gene
expression of
endothelium nitric oxide synthase in artery vessels of experimental atherosclerotic rats. METHODS: Seventy two healthy male SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups, with 12 rats in each group: model group, control group, simvastatin group, QDTMT low dosage group (QDTMT L), QDTMT moderate dosage group (QDTMT M) and QDTMT high dosage group (QDTMT H). The rat model of
atherosclerosis (AS) was established by feeding high cholesterol diet and vitamin D3. Naphthylamide heavy nitrogen spectrophotography was adopted to detect the content of nitric oxide in the serum and half quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was used to detect eNOS gene expression in artery vessels. The nitric oxide content changes and the gene expression of eNOS in artery vessels of each group were analyzed. RESULTS: The content of nitric oxide in the serum of model and each treated group was significantly higher than that in control group( P <0.01-0.05). The eNOS mRNA expression level in the model group was significantly lower than that in control group( P <0.01), but the eNOS mRNA expression level in each treated group was significantly higher than that in the model group ( P < 0.01- 0.05). CONCLUSION: QDTMT can enhance the gene expression of eNOS in artery vessels of experimental atherosclerotic rats, which may be one of the anti atherosclerosis mechanisms of QDTMT.