To observe the effect of modified Xiaochengqi decoction on skin incision healing in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ).

Healthy male rats were randomly divided into a control group, sham group, OJ+ traditional Chinese medicine (OJ+ M) group, and OJ alone group, each of which contained ten animals. The control group was not treated surgically; the sham group underwent separation of the common bile duct using laparotomy instruments, followed by abdominal closure; both the OJ+ M and OJ groups received laparotomy and separation of the common bile duct, which was ligated near the porta hepatis, followed by abdominal closure. From the day before modeling to the 7 th day after modeling, intragastric administration of modified Xiaochengqi decoction was performed in the OJ+ M group twice a day (in the morning and evening, respectively), while equal amount of distilled water was intragastrically administered in all other groups. All rats were killed on the 8 th day after modeling with specimens collected. The rats were observed in terms of general conditions, serum direct bilirubin, and incision healing. The general conditions of each group, such as activity level, mental state, and defecation, were recorded. Blood was collected via the caudal vein on the 3 rd, 5 th, and 7 th days after modeling, followed by centrifugation to obtain the serum, which was then stored at -20 ℃ for subsequent detection. Rat skin incision and abdominal incision were reserved for skin incision anti-tension test, abdominal incision anti-tension test, HE staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical detection of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression to observe the effect of modified Xiaochengqi decoction on abdominal incision healing in OJ rats.

Compared with the OJ group, the rats of the OJ+ M group exhibited improved mental state and increased activity level. On the 3 rd, 5 th, and 7 th days after modeling, the levels of serum direct bilirubin in the OJ+ M and OJ groups were significantly higher than those in the control group and sham group, suggesting successful establishment of an OJ model. Compared with the OJ group, the OJ+ M group was featured by significantly increased tension resistance on the skin incision (F=127.4, P<0.05) and abdominal incision (F=101.9, P<0.05). HE staining demonstrated that the incision was better healed in the OJ+ M group, and Masson staining showed evenly and closely distributed collagen fibers at a higher content in the latter group (t=5.241, P<0.05). Immunohistochemical detection of α-SMA expression in the OJ+ M group indicated that the subcutaneous distribution of α-SMA was wider and significantly increased around the incision (t=5.245, P<0.05).

Modified Xiaochengqi decoction increases the formation of fibrosis significantly, improves the degree of tension resistance on the skin incision and abdominal incision, and promotes the healing of abdominal incision.