Hu D W, Liu P L
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1997 Feb;17(2):94-6.
To investigate the effects of Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) and prednisone on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adjuvant arthritis (AA).
Experimental rats were divided into five groups at random, namely the normal group, model group, TW group, prednisone group and alternative group. Rats were given and intradermal injection of complete Freun d's adjuvant in right hind paws to induce adjuvant arthritis. The levels of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, adrenal weights and pathological changes were studied at the end of experiment.
The levels of plasma ACTH and cortisol and adrenal weights in TW group were significantly higher than those in normal group. On the contrary, decreased plasma ACTH and cortisol levels and atrophic adrenal cortex were observed in prednisone group. The levels of plasma ACTH and cortisol and adrenal weights in alternative group were not significantly different from those in normal group.
TW may play anti-inflammatory role by the activation of the HPA axis, and alternative application of TW and prednisone could keep the normal function of HPA axis, they were complementary to each other.
探讨雷公藤（TW）与泼尼松对佐剂性关节炎（AA）大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴的影响。
将实验大鼠随机分为五组，即正常组、模型组、雷公藤组、泼尼松组和交替组。于大鼠右后足皮内注射完全弗氏佐剂诱导佐剂性关节炎。实验结束时，检测血浆促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和皮质醇水平、肾上腺重量及病理变化。
雷公藤组大鼠血浆ACTH和皮质醇水平及肾上腺重量显著高于正常组。相反，泼尼松组大鼠血浆ACTH和皮质醇水平降低，肾上腺皮质萎缩。交替组大鼠血浆ACTH和皮质醇水平及肾上腺重量与正常组相比无显著差异。
雷公藤可能通过激活HPA轴发挥抗炎作用，雷公藤与泼尼松交替应用可维持HPA轴正常功能，二者具有互补性。
