Inhibitory effect of Duzhong Yaotong Pill on inflammation of spinal dorsal horn in rats with lumbar discs herniation based on c-JNK/CXCL1 signal pathway
LIU Jun-hao
ZHAO Ji-rong
ZHAN Yang
YIN Hong-nian
JIANG Peng
WANG Hua-sheng
MA Dong
ZHAO Rui
MA Bo-qian
Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effect of Duzhong Yaotong Pill on spinal dorsal horn inflammation in rats with lumbar disc herniation(LDH)by regulating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase(c-JNK)/chemokine(C-X-C motif)ligand 1(CXCL1)signaling pathway.Methods:Seventy-five rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,a model group,and low-,medium-,and high-dose Duzhong Yaotong Pill groups.Two hours after model establishment,the Duzhong Yaotong Pill groups were gavaged with Duzhong Yaotong Pill solution,while the sham operation group and the model group were gavaged with normal saline.The general condition of the rats in each group was observed.The paw withdrawal mechanical threshold(PWMT)and paw withdrawal thermal latency(PWTL)were measured by hyperalgesia testing.The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in the spinal dorsal horn tissue were detected by ELISA.Histopathological changes in the dorsal root ganglion were observed by HE staining.Spinal cord cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.The mRNA expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba-1),c-JNK,p-c-JNK and CXCL1 was detected by qRT-PCR,and the protein expression of Iba-1,c-JNk,p-d-JNK and CXCL1 was detected by Westernblot.Results:Compared with the sham operation group,the model group showed neuronal atrophy,reduced nuclei and Nissl bodies,a significantly increased apoptosis rate,increased levels of IL-6,IL-β,Iba-1,p-c-JNK,and CXCL1,and decreased PWMT and PWTL(all P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the low-,medium-,and high-dose Duzhong Yaotong Pill groups showed recovery of neuronal morphology,distinct nucleoli,increased Nissl bodies,a significantly decreased apoptosis rate,decreased levels of IL-6,IL-β,decreased mRNA expression and protein expression of Iba-1,p-c-JNK,and CXCL1,and increased PWMT and PWTL(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the mRNA and protein expression levels of c-JNK among groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Duzhong Yaotong Pill can inhibit spinal dorsal horn inflammation in LDH rats,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the c-JNK/CXCL1 signaling pathway.
Keywords：lumbar disc herniationDuzhong Yaotong Pillspinal cord inflammationc-Jun N-terminal kinase/CXCL1 signal pathway
Publication Date：2026-07-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 1417-1425 )