Brain edema and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis in rats with cerebral ischemia

BACKGROUND： Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis （TWEAK） participates in brain edema. However, it is unclear whether blood-brain barrier （BBB） disruption is associated with TWEAK during the process of brain edema OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of TWEAK on BBB permeability in brain edema. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： An immunohistochemical observation, randomized, controlled animal experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Neurosurgical Anatomy, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University ＆ Central Laboratory, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 2006 and December 2007. MATERIALS： A total of 48 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： normal control （n = 8）, sham-operated （n = 8）, and ischemia/reperfusion （n = 32）. Rats from the ischemia/reperfusion group were randomly assigned to four subgroups according to different time points, i.e., 2 hours of ischemia followed by 6 hours （n = 8）, 12 hours （n = 8）, 1 day （n = 8）, or 12 days （n = 8） of reperfusion. METHODS： Focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） using the suture method in rats from the ischemia/reperfusion group. Thread was introduced at a depth of 17-19 mm. Rats in the sham-operated group were subjected to experimental procedures similar to the ischemia/reperfusion group; however, the introducing depth of thread was 10 mm. The normal control group was not given any intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： TWEAK expression was examined by immunohistochemistry; brain water content on the ischemic side was calculated as the ratio of dry to wet tissue weight; BBB permeability was measured by Evans blue extravasation. RESULTS： A total of eight rats died prior to and after surgery and an additional eight rats were randomly entered into the study. Thus 48 rats were included in the final analysis. In the ischemia/reperfusion group, TWEAK-positiv     

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and blood brain barrier permeability in the rat brain after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND: The integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB) plays an important role in the patho-physiological process of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. It has been recently observed that metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is closely related to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuryOBJECTIVE: This study was designed to observe MMP-9 expression in the rat brain after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and to investigate its correlation to BBB permeability.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: This study, a randomized controlled animal experiment, was performed at the Institute of Neurobiology, Central South University between September 2005 and March 2006.MATERIALS: Ninety healthy male SD rats, aged 3-4 months, weighing 200-280g, were used in the present study. Rabbit anti-rat MMP-9 polyclonal antibody (Boster, Wuhan, China) and Evans blue (Sigma, USA) were also used.METHODS: All rats were randomly divided into 9 groups with 10 rats in each group: normal control group, sham-operated group, and ischemia for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for 3,6,12 hours, 1,2,4 and 7 days groups. In the ischemia/reperfusion groups, rats were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury by suture occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. In the sham-operated group, rats were merely subjected to vessel dissociation. In the normal control group, rats were not modeled.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BBB permeability was assessed by determining the level of effusion of Evans blue. MMP-9 expression was detected by an immunohistochemical method.RESULTS: All 90 rats were included in the final analysis. BBB permeability alteration was closely correlated to ischemia/reperfusion time. BBB permeability began to increase at ischemia/reperfusion for 3 hours, then it gradually reached a peak level at ischemia/reperfusion for 1 day, and thereafter it gradually decreased. MMP-9 expression began to increase at ischemia/reperfusion for 3 hours, then gradually reached its peak level 2 days after perfusion, and thereafter it gradually decreased.CONCLUSION: MMP-9 expression increases in rat brain tissue after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, which correlates with increased permeability of the BBB.     

Effects of ischemic preconditioning on blood-brain barrier permeability and MMP-9 expression of ischemic brain

The study was designed to investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on permeability of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in subsequent ischemic hemisphere. Rats were divided into four groups, one group was used as control, and the other three groups were given three different pretreatments: the first group received a saline injection into the right internal carotid artery (SI), the second group underwent both left and right carotid arteries occlusion (BCAO), and the third group was treated with BCAO and SI simultaneously (BS). After 24 hours of pretreatments, the focal cerebral ischemia was induced by inserting a thread into the right middle cerebral artery causing occlusion (MCAO). Brain water content, BBB permeability and MMP-9 expression of ischemic hemisphere brains were measured at 24 and 48 hours after MCAO. After 24 and 48 hours MCAO, averages for brain water content were 82.92 and 83.12% in BS group, 85.19 and 85.73% in SI group and 86.06 and 85.88% in BCAO group. Evans blue content of ischemic hemispheres were 14.01 and 11.74 microg/mm(3) at 24 and 48 hours after MCAO in BS group, which were lower than the other two groups, 16.22, 15.01 and 16.61, 15.58 microg/mm(3), respectively (p<0.01). The expression levels of MMP-9 in ischemic hemisphere in BS were lower than that in other two groups (p<0.01). Therefore, ischemic preconditioning could ameliorate brain edema and BBB disruption caused by subsequent cerebral ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning could decrease MMP-9 protein and mRNA expression, which may be an important mechanism of cerebral ischemic tolerance.     

两次线栓法构建脑缺血耐受模型大鼠血脑屏障通透性改变与基质金属蛋白酶9的表达☆

背景：诸多研究证实,短暂性脑缺血预处理可诱导脑缺血耐受。然而,脑缺血耐受的内源性保护机制尚未明确。 目的：观察脑缺血预处理诱导脑缺血耐受大鼠再灌注不同时间窗血脑屏障通透性改变及基质金属蛋白酶9表达的变化。 方法：将Wistar大鼠随机分为3组,缺血预处理组采用线栓法阻塞大脑中动脉10 min建立局灶性缺血预处理模型,分别在缺血预处理后1,3,7,14,21 d进行再次缺血2 h;模型组不进行缺血预处理,假手术组不阻塞血管。于再灌注22 h进行神经功能检测,采用TTC染色测定脑梗死体积,通过测定渗出血管外的伊文思蓝含量来评价血脑屏障通透性的变化,免疫组织化学和原位杂交法检测基质金属蛋白酶9蛋白及mRNA的表达。 结果与结论：与模型组比较,缺血预处理组1,3,7 d亚组的神经功能评分、脑梗死体积、血脑屏障通透性、脑含水量以及基质金属蛋白酶9蛋白和mRNA表达均明显减小/降低(P < 0.05或P < 0.01),其中以3 d亚组降低最为明显。提示缺血预处理诱导了脑缺血耐受,预缺血诱导的血脑屏障通透性改变以及基质金属蛋白酶9表达减低在脑缺血耐受中发挥重要作用。     

人参总皂甙对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后MDA、SOD及细胞凋亡的影响

目的:观察人参总皂甙对大鼠脑缺血再灌注的保护作用,探讨其作用机制。方法:将40只大鼠随机分为4 组:假手术组、缺血再灌注组、治疗组1、治疗组2,采用线栓法制备大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,72h断头取脑,Nissel染色光镜下观察海马CA1区病理形态变化,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡,同时检测脑组织中丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的含量。结果:与缺血再灌注组相比,人参总皂甙治疗组光镜下病理损伤轻,脑组织中MDA含量降低、SOD含量升高,细胞凋亡数降低。结论:人参总皂甙对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与抑制自由基损伤有关。     

黄芪对大鼠脑缺血血脑屏障及脑血流的影响

利用大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌流和全脑缺血再灌流损伤两种动物模型，观察黄芪注射液对脑缺血后再灌注期间血脑屏蔽及脑血流的保护作用。结果显示，与相庆对照组比较，不论是全脑缺血还是局灶性脑缺血１ｈ后再灌流３ｄ，应用黄芪的各组动物脑水肿明显减轻，血脑屏障通透性改善，大脑局部血流量显著增加。     

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury of restoration of normal perfusion pressure contributes to the neuropathological changes in rat brain

Restoration of normal perfusion pressure after resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is sometimes complicated by unexplained postoperative brain swelling and/or intracranial hemorrhage, which has been termed normal perfusion pressure breakthrough (NPPB). The precise mechanism of NPPB is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the time courses of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, water content, neuronal apoptosis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the brain during restoration of normal perfusion pressure in a new rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion associated with AVMs. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into either a sham-operated group, a control group, or a model group with reperfusion assessed at 1, 12, 24 and 72 h after restoration of normal perfusion pressure. BBB disruption was judged by extravasation of Evans blue (EB) dye. We observed that EB and water content in rat brains of the model group with reperfusion were significantly increased compared with the other groups. The most predominant increase occurred at 1 h after reperfusion, and the next at 24 h after reperfusion, representing biphasic changes which are similar to the pathological processes of acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. There was no difference of the percentage of apoptotic cells in rat brains between the sham-operated group and the control group using flow cytometry. No prominent apoptotic cells were found in the model group with reperfusion at 1 h. However, the percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly in rat brains of the model group with reperfusion at 12 h, peaked at 24 h, and decreased at 72 h after reperfusion. Apoptotic cells were confirmed with electron microscopy and terminal deoxynuleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). A significant enhancement of MPO activity in combination with reduction of SOD activity was seen at 12, 24 and 72 h in rat brains of the model group with reperfusion. Our data indicates that reperfusion after restoration of normal perfusion pressure with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion lead to secondary neuronal damage which may associate with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注后氧化性损伤标记8-ohdG及其修复酶rOGG1表达的研究

目的:检测大鼠脑缺血/再灌注后8-ohdG及rOGG1的表达,以了解神经元损伤是否与修复酶活性下降有关。方法:健康雄性Wistar大鼠,体重250±30g,随机分为2组:①造模组;②假手术组。①组大鼠用线栓法成功制作可复流的MCAO模型,2小时后再灌注。在再灌注后6小时、24小时、48小时将大鼠断头取脑,保存于液氮。均匀切成2mm厚的脑片,取第三片提取DNA或RNA。DNA样品经酶解后上高效液相-电化学检测器检测8-ohdG。RNA样品通过RT-PCR的方法探测rOGG1mRNA的表达。结果:①造模组脑缺血再灌注各时点8-ohdG的含量均较假手术组明显减少(P<0.01)。随再灌注时间的增加,脑缺血区rooG lmRNA的含量逐渐增加。②随再灌注时间的增加,造模组脑缺血区rooGlmRNA的表达量逐渐增加,但仍较假手术组明显减少(P<0.01)。结论:脑缺血区受损DNA修复不完全将导致DNA损伤积累从而引起神经元死亡。     

4000/预防性应用克罗卡林对大鼠脑缺血后AQP-4和血脑屏障通透性的影响

Cromakalim,an adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opener,exhibits protective effects on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.However,there is controversy as to whether this effect is associated with aquaporin-4 and blood-brain barrier permeability.Immunohistochemistry results show that preventive administration of cromakalim decreased aquaporin-4 and IgG protein expression in rats with ischemia/reperfusion injury;it also reduced blood-brain barrier permeability,and alleviated brain edema,ultimately providing neuroprotection.     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注中磷酸化c-Jun氨基末端激酶和蛋白丝裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶1表达变化的研究

目的：观察大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型磷酸化c-Jun氨基末端激酶（p-JNK）和蛋白丝裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶1（MKP-1）的变化,探索p-JNK和MKP-1在脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分成假手术组,缺血2h再灌注4h、24h、48h和72h组。应用“线栓法”实现大鼠右侧大脑中动脉闭塞,2h后拔出线栓进行再灌注,并在相应时间点处死大鼠。利用免疫组化法观察p-JNK和MKP-1蛋白表达水平的变化。结果：与假手术组相比,缺血再灌注组大鼠梗死灶周围区皮质p-JNK和MKP-1蛋白表达水平明显升高（P〈0．05）,开始于再灌注后4,48h达到高峰,72h开始下降。结论：P-JNK和MKP-1相互作用,参与了脑缺血再灌注损伤的形成。     

1,25(OH)_2D_3减轻小鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后炎性反应

目的探讨1,25(OH)_2D_3对小鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后炎性反应的作用及其机制。方法造模前,通过一个月低维生素D饮食喂养,小鼠随机分为假手术组、局部缺血再灌注组(模型组)和1,25(OH)_2D_3组(治疗组)。造模前3 d始,假手术组和模型组每天腹腔注射2.4%乙醇,治疗组腹腔注射1,25(OH)_2D_3,共持续6 d。再灌注72 h后,Zea Longa法对鼠进行神经功能评分,干湿重法测量缺血侧脑组织含水量,RT-PCR法检测缺血侧半球IL-1βmRNA和TNF-αmRNA表达,采用Western blot法检测缺血侧半球NF-κB p65和Claudin-5的表达。结果与模型组比较,缺血再灌注后72 h,治疗组小鼠神经功能评分较低,缺血侧半球脑含水量、IL-1βmRNA、TNF-αmRNA和NF-κB p65表达显著减少,Claudin-5表达显著增加,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 1,25(OH)_2D_3减轻小鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后炎性反应,其机制通过抑制NF-κB的活化有关。     

Hyperlipidemia affects neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in brains of focal cerebral ischemia rat model★

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia, a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, may mediate production of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to induce increased nitric oxide levels, resulting in brain neuronal injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of hyperlipidemia on brain nNOS expression, and to verify changes in infarct volume and pathology during reperfusion, as well as neuronal injury following ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Complete, randomized grouping experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University from March 2005 to March 2006. MATERIALS: A total of 144 eight-week-old, male, Wistar rats, weighing 160-180 g, were selected. A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was established by suture method after 4 weeks of formulated diet. Nitric oxide kit and rabbit anti-rat nNOS kit were respectively purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China and Wuhan Boster Biological Technology, Ltd., China. METHODS: The rats were equally and randomly divided into high-fat diet and a normal diet groups. Rats in the high-fat diet group were fed a high-fat diet, consisting of 10% egg yolk powder, 5% pork fat, and 0.5% pig bile salt combined with standard chow to create hyperlipidemia. Rats in the normal diet group were fed a standard rat chow. A total of 72 rats in both groups were randomly divided into 6 subgroups: sham-operated, 4-hour ischemia, 4-hour ischemia/2-hour reperfusion, 4-hour ischemia/4-hour reperfusion, 4-hour ischemia/6-hour reperfusion, and 4-hour ischemia/12-hour reperfusion, with 12 rats in each subgroup. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: nNOS expression was measured by immunohistochemistry, and pathomorphology changes were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Infarct volume and nitric oxide levels were respectively measured using 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the ischemic region, pathology changes were significant in the 4-hour ischemia/4-hour, 4-hour ischemia/6-hour reperfusion, and 4-hour ischemia/12-hour reperfusion subgroups fed on a high-fat diet compared to the same groups fed on a normal diet. In each ischemia subgroup, nNOS expression in brain tissues was higher than in the sham-operated subgroups fed on either the high-fat diet or normal diet (P< 0.01). At each ischemia/reperfusion time point, rats fed on a high-fat diet expressed higher levels of nNOS compared to rats fed on the normal diet (P<0.05). When tissue was stained with TTC, a white infarction area was detected in the ischemic hemisphere, demonstrating that the infarct volume gradually increased with prolonged reperfusion time in each ischemia subgroup. At each ischemia/reperfusion time point, the infarct volume was larger in rats fed on a high-fat diet compared to those fed on a normal diet. CONCLUSION: nNOS expression was greater in hyperlipidemia rats following ischemia/reperfusion. Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is aggravated with prolonged reperfusion time.     

Protective effects and time course of Huangqion early-stage free radical injury following brain trauma in rats

BACKGROUND: Huangqi (Astragalus mongholicus), a Chinese herb, has already been included in the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" for the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Secondary injury following brain injury is associated with free radical production, and Huangqi possesses the ability to ameliorate free radical-mediated injury. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to observe the correlation between anti-free-radical properties of Huangqi and early histological changes of brain tissues following traumatic brain injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: This study, a randomized, controlled, animal experiment, was performed from May 2006 to June 2007 at the Experimental Center of Science and Technology, School of Basic Science, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China. MATERIALS: Healthy, adult, Sprague Dawley rats of either gender were included. Huangqi injection was purchased from Heilongjiang Provincial Zhenbaodao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., China (National License Medical Number: Z23020781). Na -K -adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), Ca2 -ATPase, and Mg2 -ATPase, as well as kits to measure superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Biological Reagent Company, China. METHODS: Seventy-two rats were randomly divided into three groups, with 24 rats in each group: (1) sham-operated group: rats were only exposed, but not injured; (2) model group: brain focal laceration rat models were established by free-falling. These groups were intraperitoneally injected with saline, once every 10 hours; (3) Huangqi group: rats were intraperitoneally injected with 4 mL/kg Huangqi (2 g/mL), once every 10 hours, following brain focal laceration by free-falling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ultrastructural changes in brain tissue were observed under an electron microscope 24 hours after injury. The water content of brain tissue was measured using the dry-wet weight method. In addition, the activity of ATPase and SOD, as well as MDA content, was analyzed using biochemical indicators at 4, 24, and 48 hours after injury. RESULTS: All 72 rats were included in the fmal analysis. At 4, 24, and 48 hours after injury, ATPase activity was significantly reduced in the model and Huangqi groups than in the sham-operated group (P < 0.05), and this was reduction was time-dependent. At four hours after injury, no significant difference in ATPase activity was detected between the Huangqi group and the model group (P> 0.05). At 24 and 48 hours after injury, ATPase activity in the Huangqi group gradually decreased, but remained significantly greater than that in the model group (P<0.05). At four hours after injury, when compared with the sham-operated group, the MDA content in the model group significantly increased and remained at a high level, while SOD activity significantly decreased (P<0.05). In the Huangqi group, MDA content and SOD activity did not change at four hours after injury. However, MDA content significantly decreased, and SOD activity significantly increased, at 24 and 48 hours after injury, compared with the model group (P<0.05). Moreover, at 24 and 48 hours after injury, the water content of brain tissue was significantly lower in the Huangqi group than in the model group (P<0.05). Ultrastructural examination of cerebral cortical neurons revealed severe damage in the model group, compared to the sham-operated group, while only mild injury was observed in the Huangqi group. CONCLUSION: The protective effects of Huangqi against traumatic brain injury correlates with decreasing MDA content and increasing SOD activity.     

Blood flow and vascular permeability during motor dysfunction in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delayed deterioration of neurological function after central nervous system ischemia is a well-documented clinical problem. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the role of spinal cord blood flow and spinal cord-blood barrier integrity in the evolution of delayed neurological deterioration after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. METHODS: Anesthetized rabbits were subjected to lumbar spinal cord ischemia (25 minutes) and variable periods of reperfusion (30 minutes to 48 hours after ischemia). Regional spinal cord blood flow was monitored by carbon-14-labeled iodoantipyrine autoradiography; vascular permeability was assessed by quantitative microhistofluorescence of Evans blue-albumin in frozen sections of spinal cord. Hindlimb motor function was assessed by standard scoring system and tissue edema by wet/dry weight method. RESULTS: Hindlimb motor function indicated complete paralysis during ischemia and partial gradual recovery upon reperfusion (up to 8 hours), followed by progressive deterioration to severe deficits over 48 hours. Severe vascular permeability disruption was noticed early (30 minutes) after reperfusion, but almost complete recovery reestablished at 8 hours was followed by a secondary progressive increase in vascular permeability. Blood flow was reduced by 20-30% (p less than 0.01) 4 hours after ischemia in the gray matter, but hyperemia (200-300%, p less than 0.01) was observed 12-24 hours after ischemia. Spinal cord water content increased by 5.7% (p less than 0.05) 24 hours after ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that delayed neurological and motor deterioration after spinal cord ischemia is associated with severe progressive breakdown of spinal cord-blood barrier integrity that develops late (hours) after the injury. Our data suggest that no ischemic insult in early or late reperfusion is associated with delayed motor deterioration.     

Kir4.1和AQP4在大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

目的 观察大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型Kir4.1和AQP4的变化.探讨其在再灌注损伤中的作用. 方法 雄性Wistar大鼠50只.按照随机数字表法分成假手术组、缺血2 h再灌注3 h组、12 h组、24 h组和72 h组.每组10只.应用"线栓法"实现大鼠右侧大脑中动脉闭塞,2 h后拔出线栓进行再灌注,并在相应时间点处死大鼠.利用免疫组化和实时定量PCR(RT-PCR)法观察Kir4.1和AQP4蛋白表达及mRNA水平的变化. 结果与假手术组相比,缺血再灌注组大鼠梗死灶周围区皮质Kir4.1、AQP4的蛋白表达和mRNA水平明显升高.于再灌注后3 h开始升高,24 h达到高峰,72 h开始下降.假手术组、缺血再灌注3 h、12 h、24 h和72 h组Kir4.1 mRNA水平分别为0.34±0.02、0.47±0.06、0.61±0.08、0.83±0.10、0.68±0.09.AQP4的mRNA水平分别为0.49±0.05、0.66±0.09、0.91±0.09、1.12±0.11、0.94±0.08.Kir4.1与AQP4的mRNA水平呈正相关(r=0.780,P=0.000). 结论 Kir4.1和AQP4相互作用,共同参与了脑缺血再灌注损伤的形成.     

黄芪甲苷对脑缺血再灌注后血脑屏障的保护作用及occludin蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨黄芪甲苷对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后血脑屏障的保护作用及occludin蛋白表达的影响。方法SD大鼠72只,随机等分为4组,每组18只。A组为假手术组;B组为生理盐水对照组;C组为小剂量黄芪甲苷治疗组,D组为大剂量黄芪甲苷治疗组。采用干湿重法、分光光度计法及免疫组化法分别检测各组大鼠脑组织含水量、伊文氏蓝含量及occludin蛋白的表达水平。结果与A组相比,B组大鼠脑组织含水量、伊文氏蓝含量明显增多,occludin蛋白的表达明显减少(P0.01);与B组相比,C组和D组大鼠脑组织含水量、伊文氏蓝含量显著减少,occludin蛋白的表达显著增加(P0.05;C组与D组相比,大鼠脑组织含水量、伊文氏蓝含量及occludin蛋白的表达无显著差异(P0.05)。结论黄芪甲苷对脑缺血再灌注后血脑屏障具有保护作用,这可能与黄芪甲苷上调occludin蛋白的表达有关。     

脑心通对脑缺血再灌注损伤细胞外信号调节激酶活化的影响

目的:观察大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注((ischemia/reperfusion,I/R)后信号转导介质细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulated kinase,ERK)的活化情况以及脑心通对其影响。方法:雄性成年Wistar大鼠90只,随机分成3组:假手术组、对照组和脑心通组(每组30只),分别于缺血前6日每日用生理盐水4mL、生理盐水4mL和脑心通0.48g/kg(脑心通用4mL生理盐水溶解)灌胃。采用线栓法致大脑中动脉栓塞(middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO)模型,在脑缺血再灌注后的3h、6h、24h、48h和72h分别处死大鼠(各组每个时间点6只),将脑组织进行免疫组织化学、TTC染色,TUNEL法观察细胞凋亡。结果:脑缺血诱导ERK活化,第6h达高峰,并持续到72h。脑心通组ERKs活化明显较对照组增强,而且各时间点ERK免疫反应阳性细胞数脑心通组显著较对照组增多(P<0.01)。脑心通组TTC染色梗死体积及凋亡细胞数较对照组明显较少(P<0.01)。结论:局灶性脑缺血再灌注可诱导缺血脑细胞部分ERK活化,脑心通干预可使缺血大脑海马ERK活化增强,减轻细胞的缺血性损伤。     

大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注血脑屏障超微结构及紧密连接蛋白Occludin变化的研究

目的研究大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型血脑屏障(BBB)超微结构和Occludin的变化,探讨BBB的结构改变及Occludin的表达异常在再灌注损伤中的作用。方法雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分成假手术组、缺血2h再灌注3h、12h、24h、72h组,应用透射电镜、RT-PCR、免疫组化和Western Blot等方法观察再灌注后不同时相缺血区皮质BBB的超微结构,Occludin mRNA和蛋白水平的变化。结果局灶性脑缺血再灌注后,缺血区皮质BBB的超微结构受损,Occludin mRNA和蛋白表达水平下调。上述变化开始于再灌注后3h,再灌注24h达到高峰,72h开始减弱。结论脑缺血再灌注过程中,BBB的超微结构损伤及Occludin的表达下降加重了缺血再灌注损伤。     

Inhibition of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 decreases the expressions of caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) inhibition on blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity and the expressions of caveolae structural proteins caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. BBB permeability was assessed by Evans blue extravasation. The mRNA and protein expressions of caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 were determined by RT‐PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry assays. We found that BBB permeability significantly increased and reaches its peak at 72 h of reperfusion in cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion rats and is able to be ameliorated by administration of HC‐067047, an antagonist of TRPV4. Additionally, it shows a significant upregulation of caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 expression in cerebral microvessels of ischemic tissue. However, treatment with HC‐067047 was shown to downregulate caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 expression during cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion. This study demonstrates that inhibition of TRPV4 ameliorates BBB leakage induced by ischemia‐reperfusion injury through the downregulation of caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2.     

The effect of ischemic post-conditioning on hippocampal cell apoptosis following global brain ischemia in rats

We evaluated the effect of brain ischemic post-conditioning on cell apoptosis in the hippocampus following global brain ischemia in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=15/group): sham operation, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and ischemic post-conditioning (I PostC). Global brain ischemia was induced by four-vessel occlusion. Ischemic post-conditioning consisted of six cycles of 10s/10s reperfusion/reocclusion at the onset of reperfusion. All rats were sacrificed 24 hours or 72 hours after reperfusion. The hippocampal CA1 regions were analysed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling (Tunel) staining technique for determining cell apoptosis. Levels of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were measured by Western blotting. After 72 hours, fewer Tunel-positive brain cells were observed in rats from the I PostC group than in rats from the I/R group (10.3 ± 2.7% versus 40.8 ± 6.2%, p<0.01). After reperfusion at 24 hours and 72 hours, expression of caspase-3 in the I PostC group was significantly decreased (p<0.01) and expression of Bcl-2 in the I PostC group was significantly increased (p<0.01) compared with the I/R group. We conclude that down-regulation of caspase-3 and up-regulation of Bcl-2 by ischemic post-conditioning may underlie the protective effects of post-conditioning.