Abstract: To explore the changes of expression of coagulation regulating protein C mRNA (PC mRNA) and activity of plasma protein C (PC) in septic rats treated with Jidu Huayu Recipe(JHR). MethodsWistar rat sepsis models were induced by cecal ligation and puncture. The Wistar rats were divided into the normal group(NP), the control group(CP), the model group(MP) and the tradicinal Chinese medicine treated group(TCMP). The expression of Protein C mRNA and the activity of plasma PC and LPS were dynamically determined on the 12h, 24h, and 48h after the sepsis operations by realtime quantitative RT-PCR and by automated coagulation analyzer and Limulus test. The effect of JHR on the survival rate was also dynamically observed. ResultsIn the course of sepsis, the expression of protein C mRNA and the activity of plasma PC in the MP group were lower than those in the CP and NP groups（P ＜0.01）, but the LPS level was increased（P＜0.01）. The expression of protein C mRNA and the activity of plasma PC in the TCMP group were higher than that in the MP group（P ＜0.01）, but the LPS level was decreased（P＜0.0 1）.　The survival rate of the septic rats treated with JHR was obviously higher than that of those without JHR treatment （P＜0.05）.　Conclusion JHR could improve the expression of protein C mRNA and the activity of plasma PC and declines the plasma LPS level of septic rats , which improves the survival rate of septic rats. This may be one of the molecule bases of JHR in treating sepsis.

Key words: Sepsis, Jidu huayu recipe, Protein C, Rats, Wistar