Objective: To establish kidney-yang deficiency and hyperlipidemia rat models through high dose of hydrocortisone injection

with intervention by Yougui Wan

observe the effects of Yougui Wan on janus activated kinase signaltransducer 2 (JAK2)

signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and liver X receptor α (LXRα) protein and gene expression in model rats

and to study the relationship between JAK2/STAT3 signal transduction pathway and blood lipid abnormality of kidney-yang deficiency rats. Method: Sixty SD rats were divided into normal group

model group

Yougui Wan group (2.43 g·kg-1). Kidney-yang deficiency rat models were made using high dose hydrocortisone injections. Normal control rats were not modeled. The rats in model group were modeled and received normal saline. Rats in Yougui Wan group were modeled and received Yougui Wan suspension ig. Triglycerides (TG)

total cholesterol (TC)

low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) contents were detected. Immunohistochemitry was done to detect LXRα protein expression in liver tissues

and RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of JAK2

STAT3 and LXRα in rat liver tissues. Result: Compared with the normal control group

the contents of TG

TC

LDL-C in serum of model group and Yougui Wan group rats were increased significantly (P<0.01)

HDL-C content was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group

the contents of TG

TC

LDL-C in serum of Yougui Wan group were decreased significantly (P<0.01)

and HDL-C content was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with normal control group

the expression of LXRα protein in kidney-yang deficiency rats of model group was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the liver

and JAK2

STAT3 and LXRα gene expressions were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group

the expression of LXRα protein in rat liver of Yougui Wan group was significantly decreased (P<0.05)

and JAK2

STAT3 and LXRα gene expressions were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: The kidney-yang deficiency and hyperlipidemia rat models made by hydrocortisone intramuscular injections may affect blood triglycerides and cholesterol metabolism through up-regulating JAK2

STAT3 and LXRα proteins and genes in pathways transduced by JAK2/STAT3 signals. Yougui Wan may reduce the content of lipid in model rats by inhibiting expression of related cytokines proteins and genes in pathways transduced by JAK2/STAT3 signals.