蕲蛇酶对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的进一步探讨蕲蛇酶对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法采用线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞后再灌注(MCAOR)模型,观察大鼠MCAOR时神经功能状态,同时,TTC染色测脑梗死面积,电镜观察脑血管超微结构,放免法测定血浆血栓素B2及6-酮前列腺素F1α含量。用药组分别在缺血即刻或再灌注即刻静脉给药,观察比较模型组和蕲蛇酶所有给药组之间上述指标的变化。结果蕲蛇酶所有给药组都能有效改善MCAOR大鼠神经功能缺失症状,明显减小梗死灶,调节血栓素B2/6-酮前列腺素F1α,保护血管内皮细胞,维持微血管正常结构。结论蕲蛇酶对脑缺血再灌注损伤保护作用可能与维持血栓素B2/6-酮前列腺素F1α平衡、改善脑微循环有关。     

木犀草素抑制JAK2/STAT3信号通路减轻大鼠脑缺血 再灌注损伤作用的研究

目的 观察木犀草素减轻大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的作用并探讨其潜在机制。方法 SD大鼠按随机数字 表法分为假手术组、大脑中动脉栓塞（MCAO）组、木犀草素低剂量组（50 mg/kg）、木犀草素高剂量组（100 mg/kg）及尼 莫地平组（15 mg/kg）,灌胃给药,共7 d。采用线栓法建立MCAO大鼠模型,比较神经功能损伤评分、脑组织含水量、 脑梗死体积,测定各组肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-1β、B细胞淋巴瘤因子2（Bcl-2）、Bcl-2相关 X蛋白（Bax）、半胱氨酸蛋白酶3（Caspase-3）含量及磷酸化Janus蛋白酪氨酸激酶2（p-JAK2）、磷酸化信号转导及转 录激活蛋白3（p-STAT3）蛋白表达等变化情况。结果 与假手术组比较,MCAO组大鼠神经功能损伤评分、脑组织含 水量、脑梗死体积、脑组织TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β、Bax、Caspase-3含量及JAK2、STAT3蛋白磷酸化水平均明显增加（P＜ 0.05）,而脑组织Bcl-2含量明显降低（P＜0.05）;与MCAO组比较,木犀草素低、高剂量组及尼莫地平组大鼠神经功能 损伤评分、脑组织含水量、脑梗死体积、脑组织TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β、Bax、Caspase-3含量及JAK2、STAT3蛋白磷酸化 水平均明显降低（P＜0.05）,而脑组织Bcl-2含量明显增加（P＜0.05）。结论 木犀草素具有减轻大鼠脑缺血再灌注 损伤的作用,该作用与抑制JAK2/STAT3信号通路活化,进而减弱炎症反应及减少细胞凋亡有关。     

白三烯受体拮抗剂ONO—1078对大鼠局灶性脑缺血的神经保护作用

AIM: To determine whether ONO-1078 (pranlukast), a potent leukotriene receptor antagonist, has neuroprotective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 30 min of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and followed by 24 h reperfusion. ONO-1078 (0.003-1.0 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline 1 mL/kg) was ip injected 30 min before MCA occlusion and 2 h after reperfusion. The neurological score, infarct volume, neuron density (in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum), brain edema, and albumin exudation around the vessels were determined 24 h after reperfusion. RESULTS: ONO-1078 slightly improved the neurological deficiency, and dramatically decreased infarct volume and neuron loss which showed a bell shaped dose response effect with highest effect at doses of 0.01-0.3 mg/kg. Enlargement of the ischemic hemisphere and albumin exudation were inhibited at doses of 0.01-1.0 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: ONO-1078 has the protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats, which is partially attributed to the inhibition of brain edema. This may represent a novel approach to the treatment of acute cerebral ischemia with cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists.     

仙人掌多糖对大鼠局灶性脑缺血的神经保护作用

摘要目的观察仙人掌多糖对大脑中动脉栓塞（MCAO）诱导的大鼠缺血 再灌注损伤的神经保护作用。方法雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血组、0.9%氯化钠溶液组、仙人掌多糖治疗组（200 mg·kg－1·d －1,ip）。采用MCAO法制作大鼠缺血 再灌注损伤模型。分别于大鼠缺血2 h再灌注3,6,8 h后进行神经行为学评分;8 h后2,3,5 三苯基氯化四氮唑（TTC）染色测定脑梗死体积;缺血2 h再灌注22 h后脑组织切片苏木精 伊红（HE）染色显微镜下形态学观察。结果与0.9%氯化钠溶液组相比,再灌注8 h后仙人掌多糖治疗组神经行为学评分平均下降（2.35±0.47）分（P＜0.05）,梗死灶体积减少（P＜0.05）;大鼠皮质及海马组织神经细胞丢失、神经胶质增生、核固缩、核深染等形态学均有明显改善（P＜0.05）。结论仙人掌多糖可以缓解大鼠大脑中动脉栓塞症状,具有一定的神经保护作用。     

赤芍801通过抗氧化作用减轻脑缺血/再灌注损伤

目的探讨在缺血后给予赤芍801对脑缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用及可能的抗氧化作用。方法大鼠局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤后,通过NSS和运动功能评分观察赤芍801对大鼠神经功能的影响。分别通过TTC染色、Nissl染色和TUNEL染色观察再灌注后脑梗死体积、缺血周边区神经元的存活和凋亡情况。检测缺血周边区MDA和SOD指标,探讨赤芍801发挥神经保护的可能机制。结果缺氧后给予94μmol·kg-1·d-1赤芍801能很好的改善大鼠的NSS和运动功能评分,减少缺血周边区TUNEL阳性细胞数,增加Nissl染色阳性细胞数,并减少MDA的生成、提高SOD的含量。结论赤芍801能通过抗氧化作用,保护脑缺血周边区的神经元,从而提高脑缺血/再灌注大鼠远期的神经功能恢复。     

左旋四氢巴马汀对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后p53表达的影响

目的观察左旋四氢巴马汀(L-THP)对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后神经细胞凋亡及p53表达的影响。方法采用线栓法阻塞大鼠大脑中动脉(MCAO)建立局灶性脑缺血实验模型,于MCAO前30min腹腔注射L-THP,观察不同浓度L-THP(5、10、20mg/kg)对脑缺血再灌注损伤后大鼠脑梗死体积的改变;免疫组化法检测p53的表达改变;TUNEL法检测神经细胞凋亡的数量改变。结果①各用药组脑梗死体积明显小于缺血再灌组;②与缺血再灌组相比,各用药组p53蛋白表达明显下降;③各用药组凋亡细胞均较缺血再灌组明显减少。结论L-THP可能通过抑制p53表达以减少神经细胞的凋亡。     

Antagonistic effects of ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin have long been proposed for stroke treatment. This study was conducted to demonstrate the antagonistic effects of ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin (ULMWH) on cerebral ischemic injury in rats and the mechanisms underlying the effects. Male Wistar rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2h followed by reperfusion for 24h. ULMWH (0.5, 1 mg kg(-1), i.v.) was administered after the MCAO and reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after the reperfusion, neurological deficit scores, body weight and infarct volume were assessed. Spectrophotometric assay was used to determine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of the brain. Furthermore, the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) was measured. The results showed that vein injection of ULMWH at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg(-1) exerted significant neuroprotective effects on rats with focal cerebral ischemic injury via significantly decreasing neurological deficit scores, increasing body weight, reducing the infarct volume. At the same time, ULMWH significantly decreased MDA content, and increased SOD activity in ischemic brain. Compared with model group, ULMWH decreased the intracellular calcium concentration remarkably. All these findings suggest that ultra-low-molecular-weight heparin might act as a neuroprotective agent useful in the treatment in focal cerebral ischemia.     

Neuroprotective capabilities of Tanshinone IIA against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via anti-apoptotic pathway in rats

Danshen, derived from the dried root or rhizome of Salviae miltiorrhizae BGE., has Tanshinone IIA (TSA) as one of its active ingredients. Recent reports have shown that TSA can inhibit the apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal or ethanol in cultured PC12 cells. However, whether TSA has any neuroprotective effect remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of TSA on cerebral apoptosis induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in which cerebral ischemia had been induced 2 h earlier. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the rats were assessed for infarct volume etc. Intraperitoneal administration of 25 and 40 mg/kg TSA 10 min after MCAO significantly diminished infarct volume and brain water content and improved neurological deficits in a dose-dependent manner. The 25 mg/kg dosage was more effective. Treatment with 25 mg/kg TSA significantly improved symptoms and reduce infarct volume at different points in time, of which 10 min after MCAO was the most significant. Nissl-staining and HE-staining of the 25 mg/kg TSA group were more appreciable in terms of improvement relative to the vehicle group in the infarct core. TSA of dosage 25 mg/kg significantly decreased the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein and increased the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) protein in the ischemic cortex. Fewer terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were found in the penumbra of the treated group, but they were significantly more common in the vehicle group. We here conclude that the neuroprotective effects of TSA against focal cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury are likely to be related to the attenuation of apoptosis.     

Neuroprotective effects of scutellarin on rat neuronal damage induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect and mechanisms of scutellarin, a flavonoid extracted from Erigeron breviscapus Hand Mazz, against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS: Rats were pretreated ig with scutellarin for 7 d and then subjected to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The infarct volume and neurological deficit were determined by TTC staining and Longa's score. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier was evaluated by measurement of the Evans blue (EB) content in the brain with a spectrophotometer. The total NOx content was determined. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms (iNOS, eNOS, nNOS) and the key angiogenic molecules, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Scutellarin significantly reduced infarct volume (P<0.05 or P<0.01), ameliorated the neurological deficit and reduced the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) (P<0.05). When rats were pretreated with scutellarin (50 or 75 mg/kg), upregulation of eNOS expression and downregulation of VEGF, bFGF, and iNOS expression was observed, whereas scutellarin had no effect on nNOS expression. CONCLUSION: Scutellarin has protective effects for cerebral injury through regulating the expression of NOS isoforms and angiogenic molecules.     

Neuroprotective efficacy and therapeutic time window of peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts in focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Free radicals have been implicated in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Massive production of nitric oxide and superoxide results in continuous formation of peroxynitrite even several hours after IR insult. This can produce DNA strand nicks, hydroxylation and/or nitration of cytosolic components of neuron, leading to neuronal death. Peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4'-pyridyl)porphyrinato iron (III) (FeTMPyP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato iron (III) (FeTPPS) have been demonstrated to protect neurons in in vitro cultures; however, their neuroprotective efficacy in cerebral IR injury has not been explored. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and the therapeutic time window of FeTMPyP and FeTPPS in focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). FCI was induced according to the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method. After 2 h of MCAO and 70 h of reperfusion, the extent of neurological deficits, infarct and edema volume were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats. FeTMPyP and FeTPPS were administered at different time points 2, 6, 9 and 12 h post MCAO. FeTMPyP and FeTPPS (3 mg kg(-1), i.v.) treatment at 2 and 6 h post MCAO produced significant reduction in infarct volume, edema volume and neurological deficits. However, treatment at latter time points did not produce significant neuroprotection. Significant reduction of peroxynitrite in blood and nitrotyrosine in brain sections was observed on FeTMPyP and FeTPPS treatment. As delayed treatment of FeTMPyP and FeTPPS produced neuroprotection, we tested whether treatment had any influence over the apoptotic neuronal death. DNA fragmentation and in situ nick end-labeling assays showed that FeTMPyP and FeTPPS treatment reduced IR injury-induced DNA fragmentation. In conclusion, peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts (FeTMPyP and FeTPPS) produced prominent neuroprotection even if administered 6 h post MCAO and the neuroprotective effect is at least in part due to the reduction of peroxynitrite and apoptosis.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Acetylsalicylic Acid in Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion–Induced Brain Ischemia in Rats: Suppression of iNOS,HIF-1α, TNF-α, and Active Caspase-3 Expression

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is neuroprotective through various pharmacological action sites. The aim of this study was to examine the detailed mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of ASA in inflammatory and apoptotic responses induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. In this study, ASA significantly attenuated MCAO-induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Administration of ASA at 10–20 mg/kg showed marked reductions in infarct size compared with that of control rats. MCAO-induced focal cerebral ischemia was associated with increases in iNOS, HIF-1α, active caspase-3, and TNF-α mRNA expressions in ischemic regions. These expressions were markedly inhibited by treatment with ASA (20 mg/kg). In conclusion, the neuroprotective effect of ASA may mediate at least a portion of the inhibition of HIF-1α and TNF-α activations, followed by inhibition of apoptosis formation (active caspase-3) and inflammatory response (iNOS), resulting in a reduction in the infarct volume in ischemia-reperfusion brain injury. Thus, ASA treatment may represent an ideal approach to lowering the risk of or improving function in ischemia-reperfusion brain injury–related disorders.     

The Neuroprotection of puerarin against cerebral ischemia is associated with the prevention of apoptosis in rats

Previous work has shown that puerarin (Pur), extracted from the dried root of Pueraria lobata (Wild) Ohwi, increases cerebral blood flow in dogs and attenuates cerebral and spinal cord injury resulting from ischemia and reperfusion in rats and rabbits. The present study further demonstrates the neuroprotective effects of Pur on cerebral ischemic injury in rats and the mechanisms underlying the protective effects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) for 50 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Pur (50, 100 mg/kg, i.p) was administered at the onset of MCAo. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, neurological deficits were evaluated in Pur- and vehicle-treated rats. The infarct volume and edema ratios were assessed from stained brain slices. The results showed that Pur (100 mg/kg) markedly decreased the infarct volume by 34 % ( P < 0.01) in cerebral cortex and improved the neurological functions ( P < 0.05) after MCAo. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis of annexin-V and PI labeling cells showed that the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis in the dorsolateral cortex were significantly reduced by 38.6 % and 28.5 % ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) following treatment with Pur (100 mg/kg) in MCAo rats. Caspase-3 activity, a biochemical marker of apoptosis, was significantly inhibited after treatment with Pur in the dorsolateral cortex. In agreement with this result, the expression of the X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was obviously up-regulated after administration of Pur (100 mg/kg), while caspase-3 gene was down-regulated in the dorsolateral cortex. These results suggest that the neuroprotection of puerarin against cerebral ischemia is associated with anti-apoptosis.     

罗格列酮对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨罗格列酮对局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉局灶性脑栓塞模型,缺血2h,再灌注24h。评价神经功能状态,测定脑梗死体积;分光光度法测定组织丙二醛(MDA)和一氧化氮(NO)含量以及一氧化氮合酶(NOS)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和髓过氧化物酶(MPO)活性。免疫组化法测定细胞间粘附分子-1(ICAM-1)表达,HE染色观察组织病理学改变。结果罗格列酮能降低缺血再灌注后脑梗死体积,改善神经功能状态,降低脑组织MDA、NO含量,升高SOD活性并降低NOS、MPO活性以及组织ICAM-1表达,同时能减轻脑组织病理学损害。结论罗格列酮对大鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤具有明显保护作用,其机制与其清除氧自由基和抗炎有关。     

牛磺酸对急性局部脑缺血大鼠脑血流和脑梗死体积的影响

目的 :研究牛磺酸对脑缺血再灌注模型大鼠的局部脑血流和脑梗死体积的影响。方法 :用大脑中动脉栓塞 (MCAO)法制作大鼠急性局部脑缺血再灌注模型 ,分别用 10 ,4 0和 80mg·kg- 1牛磺酸经腹腔注射给药 ,检测缺血 1h和灌注 30min内脑血流 ,再灌注 2 4h后进行神经功能缺损评分并计算脑梗死体积的大小。结果 :MCAO引起大脑中动脉供血区脑血流显著下降 ,牛磺酸可减少脑血流量下降的幅度 ;缺血 1h再灌注 2 4h后 ,模型组脑梗死体积为 (33±s 9) % ,而牛磺酸治疗组脑梗死体积明显缩小 ,各组分别为 (17± 5 ) % ,(12± 5 ) %和 (11± 3) % ;牛磺酸治疗组神经缺损评分比模型组小。结论 :牛磺酸可以增加缺血局部的脑血流量 ,缩小脑梗死体积 ,对急性脑缺血具有脑保护作用。     

Therapeutic time window for treatment of focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury with XQ-1h in rats

Pervious experimental studies have shown that XQ-1h has beneficial neuroprotective effect in the cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. However, the therapeutic time window for treatment of focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury with XQ-1h is not clear. Under chloral hydrate anesthesia, transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by 2h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by 24h of reperfusion. Saline as vehicle or XQ-1h at the doses of 31.2, 15.6 and 7.8 mg/kg i.v. was administered at 0.5, 1, 2, 3h after induction of ischemia. Subsequently, 24h after MCAO brain edema, infarct volume, neurological deficits and cerebral blood flow were evaluated. Administrations of XQ-1h at the doses of 31.2mg/kg at 0.5, 1, and 2h after reperfusion of MCAO significantly reduced infarct rate (%) by 75.6% (5.2 ± 1.7), 66.2% (7.2 ± 1.9), and 47.9% (11.1 ± 1.2), respectively. XQ-1h (31.2mg/kg) treatment, 0.5, 1, and 2h after reperfusion produced significant improvement in neurological score compared to vehicle-treated group (P<0.01). Administrations of XQ-1h at the doses of 31.2mg/kg and 15.6 mg/kg at 0.5, 1, and 2h after reperfusion of MCAO significantly increased cerebral blood flow (mv) by 16.9 ± 1.9, 11.7 ± 1.3, 9.5 ± 1.0, respectively (P<0.01). In conclusion the therapeutic time window of XQ-1h for cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury is within 2h. Interestingly, we also discovered that the therapeutic time window of XQ-1h is deeply related with the activity of scavenging oxidative stress products. Further studies need to be conducted more drug combination therapy programs in order to assess the potential clinical application of XQ-1h.     

油酰乙醇胺对小鼠局灶性脑缺血的保护作用

目的观察新型PPARα激动剂油酰乙醇胺(oleoyleth-anolamide,OEA)对小鼠局灶性脑缺血损伤的保护作用及特点。方法线栓法制备小鼠大脑中动脉栓塞模型诱导脑缺血。OEA(10、20、40mg·kg-1)在术前3d开始每天灌胃给药1次;或在缺血前0.5h、1h、再灌注同时、再灌后1h,各单次灌胃给予OEA40mg·kg-1。脑缺血1.5h,再灌注24h后,测定小鼠神经功能缺失评分、脑梗死体积、脑水肿等评定脑缺血损伤的指标。结果OEA(20、40mg·kg-1)术前多次给药及OEA(40mg·kg-1)缺血前0.5h或再灌注同时单次给药可明显改善小鼠神经功能损伤,减小脑梗死体积和减轻脑水肿程度,且以再灌注同时单次给药效果最为明显。结论OEA剂量及时间依赖性的保护小鼠局灶性脑缺血急性损伤,有效剂量为20mg·kg-1和40mg·kg-1,最佳治疗时间点为再灌注同时。     

Icariin attenuates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury through inhibition of inflammatory response mediated by NF-κB,PPARα and PPARγ in rats

Icariin (ICA), an active flavonoid extracted from Chinese medicinal herb Epimedii, has been reported to exhibit many pharmacological effects including alleviating brain injury. However, little is known about the protection of ICA on ischemic stroke. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of ICA and explore its underlying mechanisms on ischemic stroke induced by cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. The animals were pretreated with ICA at doses of 10, 30 mg/kg twice per day for 3 consecutive days followed by cerebral I/R injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h and reperfusion for 24 h. Neurological function and infarct volume were observed at 24 h after reperfusion, the protein expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁), PPARα and PPARγ, inhibitory κB-α (IκB-α) degradation and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation were detected by Western blot, respectively. It was found that pretreatment with ICA could decrease neurological deficit score, diminish the infarct volume, and reduce the protein levels of IL-1β and TGF-β₁. Moreover, ICA suppressed IκB-α degradation and NF-κB activation induced by I/R. Furthermore, the present study also showed that ICA up-regulated PPARα and PPARγ protein levels. These findings suggest that ICA has neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke in rats through inhibition of inflammatory responses mediated by NF-κB and PPARα and PPARγ.     

Beta-hydroxybutyrate,a cerebral function improving agent,protects rat brain against ischemic damage caused by permanent and transient focal cerebral ischemia

In our previous study, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was found to prolong survival time and to inhibit cerebral edema by improving energy metabolism in the hypoxia, anoxia and global cerebral ischemia models. In this study, the cerebroprotective effect of BHB was examined in rats with permanent (p)-occlusion and transient (t)-occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA). BHB (30 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) was continuously administered through the femoral vein. In rats with p-MCA occlusion, BHB significantly reduced infarct area at 24 h after the occlusion, but not at 72 h after the occlusion. In rats with 2-h t-MCA occlusion followed by 22-h reperfusion, BHB significantly reduced cerebral infarct area, edema formation, lipid peroxidation and neurological deficits. Moreover, in the t-MCA occlusion model, delayed administration of BHB started at 1 h after the initiation of the MCA occlusion also significantly reduced cerebral infarct area. Taking together the results obtained in our previous study into account, these results indicate that BHB decreased cerebral edema formation and infarct area by improving of the cerebral energy metabolism during ischemia and by inhibition of lipid peroxidation after reperfusion.     

Osthole attenuates focal inflammatory reaction following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

Osthole,a main active constituent from Cnidium monnieri(L.) Cusson,has been considered therapeutic agent in the treatment of ischemic stroke.This study was designed to investigate the effect of osthole on permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in rats.Osthole was administrated by gavage to the normal and the MCAO rats.Rats were assessed for neurological deficit after 24 h following MCAO,then their brains were evaluated to determine the infarct area,and the mRNA and protein levels of some inflammatory factors were detected.It was found that MCAO animals pre-treated with osthole for 7 d showed significant improvement in all neurological tests compared with vehicle-treated MCAO groups.In addition,there was a significant decrease in infarct volume 24 h after occlusion in animals pre-treated with osthole versus the vehicle-treated MCAO group.MCAO also dramatically caused some inflammatory factors increase.However,pretreatment with osthole restored the mRNA and protein levels of these factors,including TNF-α,IL-1β,COX-2,iNOS of ischemic penumbra cortices,suggesting that osthole possessed the function of preventing brain against ischemic damage,while no significant difference was found in any of normal groups with or without osthole.The present study demonstrated that osthole may be a novel neuroprotective therapy in the treatment of focal ischemic stroke.