AIM:To investigate the effects of the Chinese herb tetrandrine(Tet) on interleukin 1 beta(IL 1β),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF
α) and expression of nuclear factor kappaB(NF κB) in the vascular wall of rabbits.METHODS:Atherosclerotic rabbit models were duplicated in 18 male Japanese flap eared rabbits by feeding high
cholesterol.Eighteen rabbits were divided randomly into three groups:
control group,model group and Tet group.Common forage(control group),high cholesterol diet(model group) and high cholesterol diet plus Tet injection(Tet group) were given to each group respectively.At the end of 12 weeks,blood samples were extracted from vein for detection of serum lipid.Serum IL 1βand TNF αwere measured by radioimmunoassay.The NF κB mRNA level was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT PCR),and the protein was qantitatived analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS:The serum IL 1βand TNF αconcentrations of the model group were significantly higher than those of the control group and Tet group(P< 0.05),no significant difference between the control group and Tet group(P >0.05).The NF) κB mRNA in the model group(1.414±0.106)was significantly higher than those in the control group(0.085±0.062) and Tet group(0.453±0.034);while the content of NF κB protein subunit P65 in the model group(10.08±5.75) was significantly lower than those in the control group(35.90±3.07) and Tet group(35.91±4.38)(P< 0.001).CONCLUSION:Tet can inhibit atherogenesis,its mechanism may be involved in the expression inhibition of NF κB gene,and anti inflammatory action.