Gyejibokryeong-Hwan Improves Recovery Of Injured Muscles In Mouse Model Of Muscle Contusion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Gyejibokryeong-Hwan (Guizhifuling-wan, GBH) on muscle injury in a mouse model of muscle contusion.METHODS: C57/BL6 mouse biceps femoris muscles were injured using the drop-mass method and injured animals were treated orally with GBH (50, 100, or 500 mg/kg) once a day for 7 d. Open field and treadmill running tests were performed to assess functional recovery from muscle injury. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting analysis. Expression of the muscle regeneration biomarkers, myoblast determination (MyoD), myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), and smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), in the biceps femoris muscle was investigated at the protein and mRNA level by Western blotting and real time-PCR, respec- tively. Histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Finally, myosin heavy chain production was investigated in differentiated C2C12 myoblasts in the presence of GBH.RESULTS: GBH treatment markedly improved locomotion and running behavior. GBH significantly inhibited the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 into the bloodstream in muscle-contused animals. The levels of MyoD, Myf5, and alpha-SMA protein and mRNA were significantly up-regulated by GBH in injured muscle tissue. Histological studies suggested that GBH facilitated recovery from muscle damage. However, GBH did not induce the production of myosin heavy chain in vitro.CONCLUSION: Overall, the present study suggested that GBH improves the recovery of the injured muscles in the mouse model of muscle contusion. (C) 2021 JTCM. All rights reserved.