Objective:To observe the regulative effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection on rabbit articular chondrocytes apoptosis induced by all trans retinoic acid ( RA ) with monolayer culture technique.Methods:Rabbit chondrocytes were cultured with various contrentrations of RA,RA and Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection,RA and DEVD-FMK for 1,2,3,4 days respectively.by Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA ladder,flowcytometric analysis and flurorescent stain for cell were detected to determine the conditions of cellular apoptosis.Results:When chondrocytes were incubated with RA 10 -4 M for 24h,flowcytometric analysis showed that apoptotic cells amounted to 26.5±3.87%,while control was only 5±2.16% (P<0.01).Examination with fluorescence microscopy showed typical morphological change of apoptosis and electrophoresis showed the characteristic DNA ladder pattern.Induced apoptosis in chondrocytes by RA was dose and time dependent,and when the concentration of RA increased it expressed stronger activity in induced apoptosis.At the same time Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection and DEVD-FMK were found to down-regulate apoptosis in chondrocytes induced by RA.Conclusion:RA can induced apoptosis in chondrocytes in vitro,and Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection can decrease apoptosis induced by RA.This implies that decreasing apoptosis in chondrocytes may be the role of Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Objective: To observe the regulative effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection on rabbit articular chondrocytes apoptosis induced by all trans retinoic acid ( RA ) with monolayer culture technique.Methods:Rabbit chondrocytes were cultured with various contrentrations of RA,RA and Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection,RA and DEVD-FMK for 1,2,3,4 days respectively.by Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA ladder,flowcytometric analysis and flurorescent stain for cell were detected to determine the conditions of cellular apoptosis.Results:When chondrocytes were culture with RA 10 -4 M for 24h, flow cytometric analysis showed that apoptotic cells amounted to 26.5±3.87%,while control was only 5±2.16% (P<0.01). Examination with fluorescence microscopy showed typical morphological change of apoptosis and electrophoresis showed the characteristic DNA ladder pattern. Induced apoptosis in chondrocytes by RA was dose and time dependent, and when the concentration of RA increased it expressed stronger activi Ty in induced apoptosis.At the same time Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection and DEVD-FMK were found to down-regulate apoptosis in chondrocytes induced by RA.Conclusion:RA can induced apoptosis in chondrocytes in vitro, and Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection can decrease apoptosis induced by RA .This implies that decreased apoptosis in chondrocytes may be the role of Salvia Miltiorrhiza injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis.