【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the effect of massage on quadriceps femoris repair and the expressions of Desmin and α-Actin in rabbits so as to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of massage in repair of muscle injury. Methods Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits, weighing (2.0 ± 0.5) kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups: groups A (n=3), B (n=12), and C (n=12). In group A, the rabbits were not treated as controls; in groups B and C, the rabbit models of quadriceps femoris injury were prepared by self-made beater. In group B, no massage therapy was given as nature recovery controls; in group C, RT-N2 intelligent massage device was used for massage therapy at 8 days after injury, at 3 000-3 100 r/min for 15 minutes, every day for 7 days or for 14 days. The quadriceps femoris specimens were taken from 6 rabbits of groups B and C at 14 days and 21 days, respectively. HE staining was employed to detect the histomorphological change. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot were used to detect Desmin and α-Actin expressions. The massage therapy effect was evaluated by the histomorphological change and Desmin and α-Actin expressions. Results All rabbits survived to the end of experiment in groups B and C. No histological change was found with regular order of muscle fibers and no connective tissue in group A; obvious tissue necrosis was seen with broken muscular fibers, muscle atrophy, and irregular order in group B; and in group C, the skeletal muscle morphology and muscle atrophy were obviously improved with regenerated muscle fibers when compared with group B. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the Desmin and α-Actin expressions obviously reduced in groups B and C, which were significantly weaker than that in group A (P lt; 0.05); the Desmin and α-Actin expressions were significantly ber in group C than in group B (P lt; 0.05), and at 21 days than at 14 days in group C (P lt; 0.05). Western blot results showed that the Desmin and α-Actin expressions were significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05), and the expressions were lowest at 14 days in group B. Conclusion The histomorphology and cytoskeletal structure can be significantly improved after massage, which may help to repair muscle injury by up-regulation of Desmin and α-Actin expressions.
ObjectiveTo establish a method for content determination of ferulic acid in Piwang massage lotion. MethodsHigh performance liquid chromatography was used. The analysis was carried on Diamonsil C18 (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm, Dimma Science and Technology Co. Ltd.) column with mobile phase consisted of methanol-2% acetic acid (32︰68). The column temperature was 30℃. The detection wavelength was 320 nm. ResultsThe responses of ferulic acid liner in range of 4.55-91.00 μg/mL (R2=0.999 9). The average recovery of ferulic acid was 98.78% (relative standard deviation is 2.668%). ConclusionThe method is simple, rapid and good repeatability. It can be used for quality control of Piwang massage lotion