Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of Tougu Xiaotong Granula(TXG)-containing serum on proliferation of rabbit chondrocytes in vitro. METHODS: The chondrocyte was obtained from the arthrodial cartilage of 4-week-old New Zealand rabbit by collagenase Ⅱdigestion, so as to establish the system of chondrocyte culture in vitro.The 3rd passage of chondrocyte in vitro was randomly divided into five groups which were respectively cultured with medium, medium with serum and the high, medium, low doses of TXG-containing serum.After cultured for 24, 48 and 72 hours, the cell cycle changes were detected by the flow cytometry. RESULTS: The high, medium doses of TXGcontaining serum could stimulate the chondrocyte through G₀/G₁ phases into S and G₂/M phases in a time-dependent manner by flow cytometry.Compared with the control and low-dose groups, the proportions of cells in G₀/G₁ phase in the high-and medium-dose groups were significantly lower, meanwhile those in S and G₂/M phases were significantly higher after 48 hours(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TXG-containing serum could effectively promote the cell proliferation of chondrocytes.

Key words: Tougu Xiaotong Granula(TXG), serum containing drug, cell multiplication, cell cycle