AIM: To study the changes of
cellular immune function in mice with moderate
acute irradiation injuries and the protective
effects of Yangyin Kangdu powder, a traditional Chinese medicine, on the injuries. METHODS: The mice models of 6 Gy X ray irradiation were established and the mice were randomized into control (A), irradiation (B) and irradiation plus Yangyin Kangdu powder (C) groups. T lymphocyte subpopulations of peripheral blood (including CD4 and CD8) were measured by direct microvolume whole blood immunoflurescent staining technique by flow cytometry, and erythrocyte immune functions (including RBC C 3bRR and RBC ICR) and WBC quantity were observed to evaluate the immune function of mice. RESULTS: The values of CD4, CD8 in groups B and C were significantly lower than those in control group ( P < 0.01) and the CD4/CD8 ratio in group B was significantly lower than that in control group ( P <0.01). The RBC C 3bRR ratio in group B significantly decreased on d 12, 20 and 28 after irradiation ( P <0.01) and the RBC ICR rosette ratio increased on d 4, 8 and subsequently declined to normal range. The RBC C 3bRR rosette ratio decreased only on the 12th d and the RBC ICR rosette ratio increased only on the 4th d in group C. The RBC C 3bRR rosette ratio in group C was higher than that in group B on d 4, 12, 20 and 28 ( P <0.01). CONCLUSION: The
cellular immune function of the mice irradiated by 6 Gy X ray is low and Yangyin Kangdu powder has some protective effects on the cellular immune function after irradiation injuries.