Sinitang (Shigyaku-to), a traditional Chinese medicine improves microcirculatory disturbances induced by endotoxin in rats

The present study investigated the effects of Sinitang (Japanese name: Shig yaku-to - a traditional Chinese medicine), on microcirculatory disturbances induced by endotoxin in rat mesentery. The changes of arteriolar diameter, the velocity of red blood cells in arterioles and venular microcirculation after endotoxin injection (6 mg.kg(-1), i.v.) were observed by videomicros copy. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were monitored continuously dur ing the experiments. Sinitang significantly prevented the decrease of mean arterial pressure, controlled the reduced velocity and also, apparently inh ibited the leukocyte extravasation across venules. However, there were no s ignificant changes in the arteriolar diameter and the heart rate in all gro ups treated with or without Sinitang. The results indicate that Sinitang ha s protective effects to improve the microcirculatory disturbances induced b y endotoxin in rat mesentery. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.