Tetramethylpyrazine Enhances Vascularization and Prevents Osteonecrosis in Steroid-Treated Rats

Figure 5

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) upregulates the VEGF and FLK1 expression in the sera and femoral heads of steroid-induced ONFH rats by ELISA and immnohistochemistry. The protein levels of VEGF (a) and FLK1 (b) in the sera of steroid-induced ONFH rats in the different groups were detected by ELISA. Statistical analysis of immunohistochemistry on the positive rate of VEGF (c) and FLK1 (d) expression in the femoral heads of steroid-induced ONFH rats from different groups. The positive expressions of VEGF and FLK1 in the femoral heads of steroid-induced ONFH rats from control, model TMP 20 mg/kg, and TMP 40 mg/kg groups were detected by immnohistochemistry (e). The arrows and arrow heads indicate VEGF and FLK1 positive expression cells, respectively. Data are represented as the mean ± S.D. ( for control; for model; for TMP treatment groups, resp.). ^##, compared with the control group. and , respectively, compared with the model group.

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