Ginsenoside Rd inhibits apoptosis following spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ginsenoside Rd has a clear neuroprotective effect against ischemic stroke. We aimed to verify the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rd in spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and explore its anti-apoptotic mechanisms. We established a spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury model in rats through the occlusion of the abdominal aorta below the level of the renal artery for 1 hour. Successfully established models were injected intraperitoneally with 6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg per day ginsenoside Rd. Spinal cord morphology was observed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Intraperitoneal injection of ginsenoside Rd in ischemia/reperfusion injury rats not only improved hindlimb motor function and the morphology of motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, but it also reduced neuronal apoptosis. The optimal dose of ginsenoside Rd was 25 mg/kg per day and the optimal time point was 5 days after ischemia/ reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis showed ginsenoside Rd dose-de- pendently inhibited expression of pro-apoptotic Caspase 3 and down-regulated the expression of the apoptotic proteins ASK1 and JNK in the spinal cord of rats with spinal cord ischemia/reper- fusion injury. These findings indicate that ginsenoside Rd exerts neuroprotective effects against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and the underlying mechanisms are achieved through the inhibition of ASK1-JNK pathway and the down-regulation of Caspase 3 expression.     

Oxidative phosphorylated neurofilament protein M protects spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Previous studies have shown that neurofilament protein M expression is upregulated in the early stage of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury, indicating that this protein may play a role in the injury process. In the present study, we compared protein expression in spinal cord tissue of rabbits after 25 minutes of ischemia followed by 0, 12, 24, or 48 hours of reperfusion with that of sham operated rabbits, using proteomic two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spec- trometry. In addition, the nerve repair-related neurofilament protein M with the unregulated expression was detected with immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Two-dimen- sional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry showed that, compared with the sham group, upregulation of protein expression was most significant in the spinal cords of rabbits that had undergone ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that neurofilament protein M was located in the membrane and cytoplasm of neuronal soma and axons at each time point after injury. Western blot analysis showed that neurofilament protein M expression increased with reperfusion time until it peaked at 24 hours and returned to baseline level after 48 hours. Furthermore, neurofilament protein M is phosphorylated under oxidative stress, and expression changes were parallel for the phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms. Neurofilament protein M plays an important role in spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury, and its functions are achieved through oxidative phosphorylation.     

Key genes expressed in different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

The temporal expression of microRNA atfer spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we established a model of spinal cord ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats by clamping the abdominal aorta for 90 minutes, before allowing reperfusion for 24 or 48 hours. A sham-operated group underwent surgery but the aorta was not clamped. The damaged spinal cord was removed for hematoxylin-eosin staining and RNA extraction. Neuronal degeneration and tissue edema were the most severe in the 24-hour reperfusion group, and milder in the 48-hour reperfusion group. RNA ampliifcation, labeling, and hybridization were used to obtain the microRNA expression proifles of each group. Bioinformatics analysis conifrmed four differentially expressed microRNAs (miR-22-3p, miR-743b-3p, miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p) and their common target genes (Tmem69 and Cxcl10). Compared with the sham group, miR-22-3p was continuously upregulated in all three ischemia groups but was highest in the group with no reperfusion, whereas miR-743b-3p, miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p were downregulated in the three ischemia groups. We have successfully identiifed the key genes expressed at different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury, which provide a reference for future investigations into the mechanism of spinal cord injury.     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 overexpression inhibits neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH_2)is an important factor in inhibiting oxidative stress and has been shown to protect against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Therefore,we hypothesized that ALDH_2 could reduce spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in rats using the modified Zivin’s method of clamping the abdominal aorta.After successful model establishment,the agonist group was administered a daily consumption of 2.5%alcohol.At 7 days post-surgery,the Basso,Beattie,and Bresnahan score significantly increased in the agonist group compared with the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group.ALDH_2expression also significantly increased and the number of apoptotic cells significantly decreased in the agonist group than in the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group.Correlation analysis revealed that ALDH_2 expression negatively correlated with the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells(r=-0.485,P0.01).In summary,increased ALDH_2 expression protected the rat spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting apoptosis.     

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on hippocampal and parietal cortical neuronal cAMP-response element-binding protein expression in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

BACKGROUND： cAMP-response element binding protein （CREB） is a key modulator of various signaling pathways. CREB activation initiates a series of intracellular signaling pathways that promote neuronal survival.
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the regulatory effects of basic fibroblast growth factor （bFGF） on cerebral neuronal CREB expression following ischemia/reperfusion injury.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： An immunohistochemical detection experiment was performed at the Department of Anatomy, Shenyang Medical College, between October 2006 and April 2008.
MATERIALS： A total of 60 healthy, adult, Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： sham-operated （n =12）, ischemia/reperfusion （n = 24）, and bFGF-treated （n = 24）. Rabbit anti-rat CREB （1： 100） and biotin labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG were purchased from the Wuhan Boster Company, China. MetaMorph-evolution MP5.0-BX51 microscopy imaging system was provided by China Medical University, China. METHODS： Rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were developed using the suture method for right middle cerebral artery occlusion. Two-hour ischemia was followed by reperfusion. Rats from the bFGF-treated and ischemia/reperfusion groups were intraperitoneally administered endogenous bFGF （500 IU/mL, 2 000 IU/kg） or an equal amount of physiological saline. Rats from the sham-operated group underwent a similar surgical procedure, without induction of ischemia/reperfusion injury and drug administration.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： After 48-hour reperfusion, hippocampal and parietal cortical neuronal CREB expression was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the absorbance of hippocampal CREB-positive products was determined using MetaMorph-evolutionMP5.0-BX51 microscopy imaging system.
RESULTS： The sham-operated group exhibited noticeable CREB expression in hippocampal and parietal cortical neurons. In the ischemia/reperfusion group, the CREB expression was discrete and neurons were poorly arranged. The bFGF-treated group exhibited increased CREB expression and better neuronal arrangement compared with the ischemia/reperfusion group. The mean absorbance of CREB-immunoreactive products in the hippocampus and parietal cortex was significantly higher in the ischemia/reperfusion group than in the sham-operated group （P 〈 0.05）, and significantly higher in the bFGF-treated group than in the ischemia/reperfusion group （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： bFGF significantly upregulates CREB expression in hippocampal and parietal cortical neurons following ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Dose-dependent effects of procyanidin on nerve growth factor expression following cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury in rats★

BACKGROUND： Recently, grape seed procyanidin （GSP） has been shown to be exhibit antioxidant effects, effectively reducing ischemia/reperfusion injury and inhibiting brain cell apoptosis. OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of GSP on nerve growth factor （NGF） expression and neurological function following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. DESIGN： Randomized controlled study based on SD rats. SETTING： Weifang Municipal People＇s Hospital. MATERIALS： Forty-eight healthy adult SD rats weighing 280-330 g and irrespective of gender were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Shandong University. GSP derived from grape seed was a new high-effective antioxidant provided by Tianjin Jianfeng Natural Product Researching Company （batch number： 20060107）. Rabbit-anti-rat NGF monoclonal antibody was provided by Beijing Zhongshan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and SABC immunohistochemical staining kit by Wuhan Boster Bioengineering Co., Ltd. METHODS： The present study was performed in the Functional Laboratory of Weifang Medical College from April 2006 to January 2007. Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group, high-dose GSP （40 mg/kg） group, or low-dose GSP （10 mg/kg） group （n = 12 per group）. Ischemia/reperfusion injury was established using the threading embolism method of the middle cerebral artery. Rats in the ischemia/reperfusion model group were given saline injection （2 mL/kg i.p.） once daily for seven days pre-ischemia/reperfusion, and once more at 15 minutes before reperfusion. Rats in the high-dose and low-dose GSP groups were injected with GSP （20 or 5 mg/mL i.p., respectively, 2 mL/kg） with the same regime as the ischemia/reperfusion model group. The surgical procedures in the sham operation group were as the same as those in the ischemia/reperfusion model group, but the thread was approximately 10 mm long, thus, the middle cerebral artery was not blocked. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： NGF expression in the     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells repair spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury by promoting axonal growth and anti-autophagy

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into neurons and astrocytes after trans- plantation in the spinal cord of rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury. Although bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are known to protect against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury through anti-apoptotic effects, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured and proliferated, then transplanted into rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury via retro-orbital injection. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence with subsequent quantification revealed that the expression of the axonal regeneration marker, growth associated protein-43, and the neuronal marker, microtubule-as- sociated protein 2, significantly increased in rats with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation compared with those in rats with spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Fur- thermore, the expression of the autophagy marker, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B, and Beclin 1, was significantly reduced in rats with the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation compared with those in rats with spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of growth associated protein-43 and neuro- filament-H increased but light chain 3B and Beclin 1 decreased in rats with the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Our results therefore suggest that bone marrow mes- enchymal stem cell transplantation promotes neurite growth and regeneration and prevents autophagy. These responses may likely be mechanisms underlying the protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

丙戊酸对脊髓损伤大鼠内源性神经干细胞增殖的影响

BACKGROUND： Valproic acid has been reported to decrease apoptosis, promote neuronal differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells, and inhibit glial differentiation of brain-derived neural stem cells.
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of valproic acid on proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in a rat model of spinal cord injury.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, neuropathological study was performed at Key Laboratory of Trauma, Buming, and Combined Injury, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA between November 2005 and February 2007.
MATERIALS： A total of 45 adult, Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham surgery （n = 5）, injury （n = 20）, and valproic acid （n = 20） groups. Valproic acid was provided by Sigma, USA. METHODS： Injury was induced to the T10 segment in the injury and valproic acid groups using the metal weight-dropping method. The spinal cord was exposed without contusion in the sham surgery group. Rats in the valproic acid group were intraperitoneally injected with 150 mg/kg valproic acid every 12 hours （twice in total）.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Nestin expression （5 mm from injured center） was detected using immunohistochemistry at 1,3 days, 1, 4, and 8 weeks post-injury.
RESULTS： Low expression of nestin was observed in the cytoplasm, but rarely in the white matter of the spinal cord in the sham surgery group. In the injury group, nestin expression was observed in the ependyma and pia mater one day after injury, and expression reached a peak at 1 week （P 〈 0.05）. Expression was primarily observed in the ependymal cells, which expanded towards the white and gray matter of the spinal cord. Nestin expression rapidly decreased by 4 weeks post-injury, and had almost completely disappeared by 8 weeks. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, there was no significant difference in nestin expression between the valproic acid and injury groups. At 1 week, there was a significant increase in the number of nestin-positive cells surrounding the central canal in valproic acid group compared with the injury group （P 〈 0.05）. Expression reached a peak by 4 weeks, and it was still present at 8 weeks.
CONCLUSION： Valproic acid promoted endogenous neural stem cell proliferation following spinal cord injury in rats.     

移植分泌神经营养素3的人胚神经干细胞在脊髓损伤大鼠体内存活及对运动功能的影响

BACKGROUND： Many methods have been attempted to repair nerves following spinal cord injury, including peripheral nerve transplantation, Schwann cell transplantation, olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, and embryonic neural tissue transplantation. However, there is a need for improved outcomes.
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the repair feasibility for rat spinal cord injury using human neural stem cells （hNSCs） genetically modified by lentivirus to express neurotrophin-3.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： In vitro cell biological experiment and in vivo randomized, controlled genetic engineering experiment were performed at the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA and First People＇s Hospital of Yibin, China from March 2006 to December 2007.
MATERIALS： A total of 64 adult, female, Wistar rats were used for the in vivo study. Of them, 48 rats were used to establish models of spinal cord hemisection, and were subsequently equally and randomly assigned to model, genetically modified hNSC, and normal hNSC groups. The remaining 16 rats served as normal controls.
METHODS： hNSCs were in vitro genetically modified by lentivirus to secrete both green fluorescence protein and neurotrophin-3. Neurotrophin-3 expression was measured by Western blot. Genetically modified hNSC or normal hNSC suspension （5 × 10^5） was injected into the rat spinal cord following T10 spinal cord hemisection. A total of 5μL Dulbecco＇s-modified Eagle＇s medium was infused into the rat spinal cord in the model grop. Transgene expression and survival of transplanted hNSCs were determined by immunohistochemistry. Motor function was evaluated using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan （BBB） scale.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The following parameters were measured： expression of neurotrophin-3 produced by genetically modified hNSCs, transgene expression and survival of hNSCs in rats, motor function in rats.
RESULTS： hNSCs were successfully genetically modified by lentivirus to stably express neurotrophin-3. The transplanted hNSCs primarily gathered at, or around, the injection site two weeks following transplantation, and gradually migrated towards the surrounding tissue. Transplanted hNSCs were observed 7.0-8.0 mm away from the injection site. In addition, hNSCs were observed 10 weeks after transplantation. At week 4, BBB locomotor scores were significantly greater in the genetically modified hNSC and normal hNSC groups, compared with the model group （P 〈 0.05）, and scores were significantly greater in the genetically modified hNSC group compared with the normal hNSC group （P 〈 0.05）.
CONCLUSION： hNSCs were genetically modified with lentivirus to stably secrete neurotrophin-3. hNSCs improved motor function recovery in rats following spinal cord injury.     

丹参酮IIa拮抗脊髓缺血再灌注损伤：干预谷氨酸释放的上游因素

目的：探讨丹参酮调控谷氨酸转运体功能对脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的作用。方法：88只SD 大鼠结扎腹主动脉,制作脊髓缺血再灌注损伤模型。按随机数字表法将动物分为假手术组（n=8）,模型组（n=40）和丹参酮组（n=40）。分别在脊髓缺血再灌注损伤后0.5h、1h、4h、8h、12h相应时点检测各组谷氨酸转运体功能和Na+-K+−ATP酶活性。结果： ①大鼠脊髓组织谷氨酸转运体功能及Na+-K+−ATP酶活性在脊髓缺血再灌注损伤后0.5h后开始下降,4h后降到最低点,其后活性逐渐恢复,但12h后仍未及正常水平。②丹参酮组各观测点脊髓组织谷氨酸转运体功能及Na+-K+−ATP酶活性均较其它两组高。结论：①大鼠脊髓缺血再灌注损伤时脊髓谷氨酸转运体功能和Na+-K+−ATP酶活性均下降;②丹参酮可能通过保护脊髓谷氨酸转运体功能和Na+-K+−ATP酶活性的下降,从而减轻大鼠脊髓缺血再灌注损伤。     

Key genes expressed in different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury ischemia/reperfusion injury

The temporal expression of microRNA after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury is not yet fully understood.In the present study,we established a model of spinal cord ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats by clamping the abdominal aorta for 90 minutes,before allowing reperfusion for 24 or 48 hours.A sham-operated group underwent surgery but the aorta was not clamped.The damaged spinal cord was removed for hematoxylin-eosin staining and RNA extraction.Neuronal degeneration and tissue edema were the most severe in the 24-hour reperfusion group,and milder in the 48-hour reperfusion group.RNA amplification,labeling,and hybridization were used to obtain the microRNA expression profiles of each group.Bioinformatics analysis confirmed four differentially expressed microRNAs(miR-22-3p,miR-743b-3p,miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p) and their common target genes(Tmem69 and CxcllO).Compared with the sham group,miR-22-3p was continuously upregulated in all three ischemia groups but was highest in the group with no reperfusion,whereas miR-743b-3p,miR-201-5p and miR-144-5p were downregulated in the three ischemia groups.We have successfully identified the key genes expressed at different stages of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury,which provide a reference for future investigations into the mechanism of spinal cord injury.     

Acupuncture for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury Does it reduce the inflammatory reaction?

BACKGROUND:Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in brain tissue can participate in inflammatory reactions after cerebral ischemia.Acupuncture treatment for acute cerebral ischemia produces abnormal protein expression.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of acupuncture on NF-κB, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:Randomized...     

MK-801在脊髓缺血中的神经保护作用

目的地佐环平(MK-801)对脊髓缺血中神经保护作用的研究。方法建立新西兰兔脊髓缺血模型,利用HE染色、原位末端转移酶标记技术(TUNEL)、免疫组化、逆转录反应系统(RT-PCR)等技术检测N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸受体(N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor,NMDAR)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase,iNOS)、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(Caspase-3)的表达水平,观察不同剂量MK-801在脊髓缺血中的神经保护作用。结果对照组脊髓结构完全消失,低剂量组结构较完整,高剂量组缺血损害程度最轻,假手术组脊髓结构正常。NMDAR、iNOS、Caspase-3等蛋白在神经元中有明确表达。凋亡指数、NMDAR、iNOS、Caspase-3 mRNA表达水平在对照组最高,低剂量组、高剂量组,假手术组则逐渐降低,差别具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 MK-801能抑制神经细胞凋亡,对脊髓缺血具有神经保护作用。     

NMDAR1、Caspase-3在脊髓缺血性损伤的表达特点及相关性研究

目的探讨脊髓缺血后N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸受体1（N-methyl-D-aspartatereceptor,NMDARl）、Caspase-3的表达变化规律及意义。方法40只新西兰大白兔采用结扎腰动脉建立脊髓缺血模型,于缺血后6h、12h、24h、48h、72h取缺血脊髓标本,运用反转录聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）及蛋白印记技术在基因和蛋白水平检测NMDAR1、Caspase-3在不同缺血时间的表达变化规律,同时运用免疫组织化学技术观察NMDAR1、Caspase-3在细胞中的表达定位情况;用SPSS统计分析。结果RT-PCR、蛋白印记显示缺血组与对照组比较NMDAR1、Caspase-3表达增加,并且有随缺血时间的延长表达逐渐增高的趋势,相关性分析显示NMDAR1、caspase-3在mRNA（r=0．947,P〈0．005）、蛋白（r=0．984,P〈0．005）水平呈正相关;免疫组化结果发现,NMDAR1、Caspase-3主要在细胞浆中表达。结论脊髓缺血时NMDAR1、caspase-3随缺血时间延长表达增加,NMDAR1、Caspase-3共同参与脊髓缺血性损伤过程,其表达与缺血时间有关。     

Stress protein expression in early phase spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury*

Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury is a stress injury to the spinal cord. Our previous studies using differential proteomics identified 21 differentially expressed proteins (n > 2) in rabbits with spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Of these proteins, stress-related proteins included protein disulfide isomerase A3, stress-induced-phosphoprotein 1 and heat shock cognate protein 70. In this study, we established New Zealand rabbit models of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury by abdominal aorta occlusion. Results demonstrated that hind limb function initially improved after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury, but then deteriorated. The pathological morphology of the spinal cord became aggravated, but lessened 24 hours after reperfusion. However, the numbers of motor neurons and interneurons in the spinal cord gradually decreased. The expression of protein disulfide isomerase A3, stress-induced-phosphoprotein 1 and heat shock cognate protein 70 was induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. The expression of these proteins increased within 12 hours after reperfusion, and then decreased, reached a minimum at 24 hours, but subsequently increased again to similar levels seen at 6-12 hours, showing a characterization of induction-inhibition-induction. These three proteins were expressed only in cytoplasm but not in the nuclei. Moreover, the expression was higher in interneurons than in motor neurons, and the survival rate of interneurons was greater than that of motor neurons. It is assumed that the expression of stress-related proteins exhibited a protective effect on neurons.