Objective: To observe the effect of Danggui Sini decoction on connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) in skin tissue of the systemic sclerosis (SSc) mice of BALB/c. Method: BALB/c mice 60 with eight weeks old inbred strain were selected and the back fur of the central district was shaved off

and randomly divided into 5 groups (n=12 each group). The back skin of mouse in the model group and observation group was injected with 100 μL (200 mg·L-1)

bleomycin (BLM) solution once each day for 3 weeks. The back skin of mouse in normal group was injected with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) 0.1 mL.After the modeling

mice in each group was given 20 mL·kg-1 by gavage daily for 3 weeks

the dosage of Danggui Sini decoction was 39

23.4

7.8 g·kg-1.Normal and model groups were given equal volume of saline

After the end of the experiment

the animals were killed

injected central skin was collected

andtissue homogenate was made with 2%saline and 3 000 r·min-1 centrifugation for 10 min

and then the supernatant was extracted and the content of CTGF and TGF-β were determined using ELISA method.Some of the skin was fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution

and then embedded in paraffin

and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining

skin thickness and fibrosis index were determined

respectively

with color pathology images and Immunohistochemistry quantitative analysissystem. Result: Danggui Sini decoction could reduce the BLM induced scleroderma mouse dermal thickness (in high and middle dosage

which was 25.22±2.35

29.13±2.03 respectively

P<0.01 while in the low dosage

29.95±2.85

P＜0.05. In high-dose group and the medium dose group skin fibrosis index was reduced (86 615±8 403

103 174±18 439

respectively

P＜0.01)and skin tissue levels of CTGF (160.22±35.73)

(109.51±28.64) ng·L-1

respectively

P＜0.01)and TGF-β (48.48±4.95)

(63.30±7.32)ng·L-1

respectively P<0.01) were also reduced

and there was a significant dose-effect relationship. Conclusion: Danggui Sini decoction can reduce the degree of hardening of the skin in mouse model

and can reduce the the CTGF and TGF-β content.