CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE PROTECTS GASTRIC PARIETAL-CELLS FROM ADRIAMYCIN CYTOTOXICITY

The effects of the Chinese traditional drug, Rikkunshito (TJ-43) to ad riamycin (ADM)induced gastric cytotoxicity were studied histo-and cyto chemically. Single i.p, injection of ADM (1.0mg/100g b.w.) to rats dec reased cytochemical activities of cytochrome C oxidase (COX) in mitoch ondria and Ca2+-ATPase in plasma membrane of parietal cells. Oral admi nistration of TJ-43 (100 mg/100g b.w.) to rats for 5 days prior to ADM injection almost completely prevented a decrease of both the enzyme a ctivities by ADM. Post-treatment of TJ-43 after ADM injection showed l ower intensities of both the enzyme activities than in normal rats, bu t significantly higher than those of ADM-injected rats without TJ-43 t reatment. Localization of lysosomal acid phosphatase (AcPase) appeared to be confined to lysosomes in normal and TJ-43-pre-treated rat parie tal cells, but the reaction products in the ADM-treated rat with and w ithout TJ-43 post-treatment tended to disperse into the cytoplasm of m ost parietal cells. Therefore, a destructive effect of ADM on lysosoma l membrane was suggested in ADM-injected rats with and without TJ-43 p ost-treatment. Taken together, TJ-43 appeared to have preventive effec t against ADM-induced cytotoxicity, whereas its posttreatment had part ial, but significant curative effects on the parietal cells.