To investigate the regulation of Shentong Zhuyu Decoction on apoptotic rate of human nucleus pulposus(NP) cells and expression of anti-apoptotic proteins SOX9 and Collagen II under hydrostatic pressure.Methods:According to the conversion method of “rabbit surface area/human surface area=rabbit dosage/human dosage”,the dosage of 28 g/kg D granules for rabbits was calculated.After 3 days of continuous intragastric administration,abdominal aorta blood was taken to prepare serum containing Shentong Zhuyu Decoction.Human NP cells were divided into 6 groups:pressure group:0.3 MPa pressure group,1 MPa pressure group,3 MPa pressure group; Chinese medicine group:0.3 MPa pressure+Chinese medicine serum group,1 MPa pressure+Chinese medicine serum group,3 MPa pressure+Chinese medicine serum group.Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to detect the proliferative activity of NP cells in 6 groups of human NP cells after 2,4 and 6 hours in a constant temperature hydrostatic pressure tank.Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide double staining flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic status of NP cells in each group.Changes of SOX9 and Collagen II content in NP cells were detected using Western Blot.Results:CCK-8 method was used to test the activity of NP cells in the two groups.The activity of NP cells in the drug-containing serum group was higher than that in the pressure group at the same pressure and time (P<0.05).Flow cytometry was used to test the apoptosis of NP cells.The apoptosis rate of NP cells in the drug-containing serum group was lower than that in the pressure group at the same pressure and time (P<0.05).Western Blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins:SOX9 and Collagen II levels in the Chinese herbal medicine group were higher (P<0.05).Conclusion:Shentong Zhuyu Decoction can activate PI3K/AKT pathway, promote the expression of Collagen II and SOX9,increase the activity of NP cells, reduce autophagy and apoptosis of NP cells,thus delaying the degeneration of intervertebral disc.