Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There have been few studies describing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system and nitric oxide (NO) expression  after chronic soft tissue injury.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Qingbai powder on NOS system and NO in rat skeletal muscle of chronic muscle injury model.
METHODS: Seventy two male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups: control, model, aminoguanidine, Qingbai powder. Rats from the latter three groups were developed into model of chronic skeletal muscle injury by mechanical injury methods and then given 10 mL/kg normal saline, 0.10 g/kg aminoguanidine, 0.54 g/kg Qingbai power respectively, once a day, for successive 14 days. At 1, 2, and 3 weeks after administration, NO content, total NOS and inducible NOS activity in rat skeletal muscle tissue were detected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During skeletal muscle healing process, NO content and total NOS and inducible NOS activity in rat skeletal muscle were significantly greater in the model group than in the control group. However, these indices were significantly lower in the Qingbai powder and aminoguanidine groups than in the model group. Results showed that Qingbai powder can induce the excessive production of NO by inhibiting inducible NOS, which creates favorable conditions for the recovery of chronic soft tissue injury.