[Effect of Rhizoma Polygonati on the Function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Telomerase Ac- tivity in Nature Senescent Rats].

Objective To observe the effect of Rhizoma Polygonati (RP) on the function of spi- nal endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and telomerase activity in nature senescent rats. Methods To- tally 48 natural senescent rats (20 months old) were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their body weight, i.e., the blank group, high, medium, low dose RP groups, 12 in each group. Meanwhile, 12 young rats (5 months old) were recruited as a normal control group. RP decoction at 4, 2, 1 g/kg was in- tragastrically administered to rats in high, medium, low dose RP groups, once per day for 12 successive weeks. Equal volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered to rats in the normal control group and the blank group, once per day for 12 successive weeks. Contents of antioxidant indices were detec- ted. Meanwhile, adherence cells were identified after in- vitro culture of mononuclear cells of bone marrow in each group. The proliferation was detected using MTT assay. The migration was detected by Transwell assay. The tubule function was detected using in vitro angiogenesis kit. And the telomerase activity was detected by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results Compared with the normal control group, serum total-antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) , contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-per- oxidase (GSH-Px) were obviously reduced, malondialdehyde (MDA) content obviously increased, the function of bone marrow EPCs was obviously damaged in the blank group (P <0. 01). Compared with the blank group, serum contents of T-AOC, SOD, and GSH-Px obviously increased and MDA content decreased in high and medium dose RP groups (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). The proliferation and migration of EPCs, the tubule function, and the telomerase activity could be promoted in high and medium dose RP groups (P <0. 05,P <0. 01). Conclusion RP could protect damaged function of EPCs in senescent rats by promoting serum antioxidant level and telomerase activity.