Suppressive Effect of Huzhentongfeng on Experimental Gouty Arthritis: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Figure 2

Histological examination of rat joints injected with MSU crystals (magnification, ×200). In the control group, synovial membrane was normal and no inflammatory cell infiltration was found. (a) Joints injected with MSU crystals demonstrated leukocytes infiltrations and edema. Synovial tissue proliferation of nodularity was observed in the synovial lining of the joint, as well as synovial membrane cells with some zones of degeneration and necrosis (MSU alone). (b) Acute inflammation with polymorphonuclear infiltration in the synovial lining of MSU crystal-injected rats was attenuated by Tongfengshu and HZTF. (c) The Tongfengshu (1.50 g/kg) group has no obvious edema in loose connective tissue, but there were still demonstrated inflammatory cells infiltration. (d–f) HZTF (0.25, 0.5 and 1.00 g/kg) groups demonstrated only mild infiltration of scattered leukocytes. The synovial of HZTF group (MSU and HZTF 1.00 g/kg) appeared normal.

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