Protective effect of Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Sheng-Nao-Kang decoction (SNK), a modified traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used clinically for the treatment of acute and chronic cerebrovascular related diseases. To evaluate the protective effect of SNK on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Focal cerebral I/R injury in rats was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h followed by reperfusion for 24h. Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six kinds of groups: Sham group; I/R group; SNK-treated groups at doses of 0.7 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg and 2.8 g/kg; and nimodipine (NMP)-treated group. The recoveries of neurological function in rats were estimated by neurological defect scoring and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining after 24h reperfusion. Various biochemical indexes in serum were assayed by colorimetry, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and total nitric oxide synthase (TNOS). Histological structures of the brain in rats were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the caspase-3 protein content in rats. SNK administration significantly reduced the neurological defect scores and lessened the cerebral infarction volume. The treatment of SNK lowered MDA content, up-regulated SOD and GSH-Px levels, down-regulated iNOS and TNOS levels in serum. Furthermore, histological examination indicated that dense neuropil and largely surviving neurons were seen in SNK-treated rats. SNK administration restrained the expression of caspase-3 positive protein significantly. The results suggest that SNK demonstrates a strong and ameliorative effect on cerebral I/R damage in rats. The protective mechanisms of SNK are associated with its properties of anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidation as well as regulation of iNOS and TNOS.

Chen L ，Zhao Y ，Zhang T ，Dang X ，Xie R ，Li Z ，Li Y ，Li Y ，Zhao W ，Song H ... -  《-》

Protective effect of rhGLP-1 (7-36) on brain ischemia/reperfusion damage in diabetic rats.

In recent years, GLP-1 and its analogs have been developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It has been reported that stimulating the GLP-1 receptor can protect neurons against metabolic and oxidative insults, and therefore can be used in the treatment of stroke and Parkinson׳s disease. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effects of rhGLP-1 (7-36) and its possible mechanisms against acute ischemia/reperfusion injuries induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in diabetic rats. The type 2 diabetic rat model was established by a combination of a high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ). RhGLP-1 (7-36) (20, 40, 80μg/kg) was given intraperitoneally before reperfusion. The neuroprotective effects of rhGLP-1 (7-36) were evaluated by changes in neurological deficit scores and 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Changes in blood glucose were used to assess hypoglycemic effects. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), inducible nitric oxide syntheses (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide syntheses (eNOS) after MCAO/R administration (2h and 46h) were examined to investigate the possible mechanisms of RhGLP-1 (7-36). Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used for histopathological observation. Compared with the control group, rhGLP-1 (7-36)-treated groups decreased nerve function deficiency scores; significantly reduced infarction volume percentage, MDA, iNOS and blood glucose; and significantly increased SOD, GSH-PX and eNOS. In addition, rhGLP-1 (7-36) groups enhanced the density of surviving neurons and increased vascular proliferation. The current study suggests a neuroprotective effect of rhGLP-1 (7-36) in diabetic MCAO/R rats since anti-oxidative and anti-nitrosative stress effects can contribute to beneficial effects against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Zhao L ，Xu J ，Wang Q ，Qian Z ，Feng W ，Yin X ，Fang Y ... -  《-》

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decotion induced protective autophagy against the injury of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion via MAPK-mTOR signaling pathway.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decotion (HLJDD, Hwangryun-Hae-Dok-Decotion in Japan), an ancient antipyretic and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine formula, was reported to have protective effect on ischemic stroke. To investigate the therapeutic effect of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and explore its mode of action. A model of ischemic stroke in the rat was established after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion. Rats were assigned randomly to groups of control, sham, transient ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and three treatment groups by HLJDD at 2.5, 5.0, 10.0mg/kg. The neurological deficit, the cerebral infarct size, morphology abnormality, biochemical parameters were examined, and the levels of relevant proteins were determined by immunoblotting analysis to evaluate the protective effects of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and explore the underlying mechanism. Compared with I/R group, HLJDD significantly ameliorated neurological deficit and histopathology changes, decreased infarct area, and restored the levels of biochemical indicators including nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). HLJDD also notably elevated the levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin-1, and other autophagy related genes (Atgs), promoted the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase (PDK1), and inhibited the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNK), p38, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). HLJDD showed neuroprotective effects on ischemic stroke, at least in part to the induced protective autophagy via the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signals. This Akt-independent protective autophagy is favorable in the treatment of stroke, avoiding unfavorable side-effects associated with the inactivation of Akt. The efficacy of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and its safety warranted by its long-term clinical use in traditional Chinese medicine favored further study to develop HLJDD as an effective therapeutic agent to treat ischemic stroke.

Wang PR ，Wang JS ，Zhang C ，Song XF ，Tian N ，Kong LY ... -  《-》

Transplantation of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells attenuates cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress and nuclear factor-κB expression.

Qiu J ，Li W ，Feng S ，Wang M ，He Z ... -  《-》

Dragon's blood dropping pills have protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia rats model.

Dragon's blood is a bright red resin obtained from Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C.Chen (Yunnan, China). As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, it has great traditional medicinal value and is used for wound healing and to stop bleeding. Its main biological activity comes from phenolic compounds. In this study, phenolic compounds were made into dropping pills and their protective effects were examined by establishing focal cerebral ischemia rats model used method of Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO), and by investigating indexes of neurological scores, infarct volume, cerebral index, cerebral water content and oxidation stress. Compared to model group, high, middle and low groups of Dragon's blood dropping pills could improve the neurological function significantly (p<0.01) and reduce cerebral infarct volume of focal cerebral ischemia rats remarkably (p<0.05-0.01). Meanwhile, each group could alleviate cerebral water content and cerebral index (p<0.05-0.01) and regulate oxidative stress of focal cerebral ischemia rats obviously (p<0.05-0.01). Activities of middle group corresponded with that treated with positive control drug. The results obtained here showed that Dragon's blood dropping pills had protective effects on focal cerebral ischemia rats.

Xin N ，Yang FJ ，Li Y ，Li YJ ，Dai RJ ，Meng WW ，Chen Y ，Deng YL ... -  《-》