Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 play an important role in osteoblast differentiation and maturation, which are greatly associated with cervical diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of Liubaichangsha granule on bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 in the peripheral serum of cervical disease rabbit models.
METHODS: Fifty adult rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Cervical disease models were made through keeping squatting and head-bending position in all the groups except for the normal control group. Intragastric administration of 0.25 g Jingfukang granule, 0.5 g Liubaichangsha granule and 0.25 Liubaichangsha granule per day was performed respectively in the Jingfukang group, low-dose and high-dose Liubaichangsha groups. The same volume of diluted water was given in the normal control and model groups. All the rabbits were examined with roentgenogram and dual energy radiograph absorptiometry for the cervical vertebrae in the 4th and 12th weeks, the pathology of the cervical intervertebra discs were measured in the 12th week, and bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 levels in the peripheral blood serum were determined and observed in the     12th week.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 levels in the high-dose Liubaichangsha group were significantly higher than those in the normal control, model and low-dose Liubaichangsha groups (P < 0.05). The model group had a lower levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 as compared with the normal control, Jingfukang and high-dose Liubaichangsha groups (P < 0.05), but not differ from the low-dose Liubaichangsha group (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that Liubaichangshagranule can increase the levels of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and LIM mineralization protein 1 so as to cure cervicaldiseases.