Protective effects of acupuncture on brain tissue following ischemia/reperfusion injury★

BACKGROUND： In patients with cerebrovascular disease, by means of the neuroendocrine system, acupuncture supports the transformation of a local pathological status into a physiological status. Recently, great progress has been made in studying the protective effects of acupuncture on brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE： To summarize research advances in the protective effects of acupuncture on brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. RETRIEVAL STRATEGY： Using the terms ＂acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and cerebral protection＂, we retrieved articles from the PubMed database published between January 1991 and June 1994. Meanwhile, we searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure with the same terms. Altogether, 114 articles and their results were analyzed. Inclusive criteria： studies that were closely related to the protective effects of acupuncture on brain ischemia/reperfusion injury, or studies, whose contents were in the same study field and were published recently, or in the authorized journals. Exclusive criteria： repetitive studies. LITERATURE EVALUATION： Thirty articles that related to the protective effects of acupuncture on brain ischemia/reperfusion injury were included. Among them, 7 were clinical studies, and the remaining 23 articles were animal experimental studies. DATA SYNTHESIS： ① Animal experimental studies have demonstrated that acupuncture improves brain blood perfusion and brain electrical activity, influences pathomorphological and ultramicrostructural changes in ischemic brain tissue, is beneficial in maintaining the stability of intracellular and extracellular ions, resists free radical injury and lipid peroxidation, and influences cytokine, neurotransmitter, brain cell signal transduction, and apoptosis-regulating genes. ② Clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture not only promotes nutritional supply to local brain tissue in patients with cerebral infarction, but also increases brai     

Effect of ketamine on aquaporin-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis in brain tissues following brain injury in rats

INTRODUCTIONAquaporin (AQP), found recently, is a group of water permeability-re-lated cell membrane transport protein. Among them, AQP-4 is mostnoticeable. To suppress AQP-4 expression can relieve the formationof brain edema, and then reduce the death ra…     

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     

Correlation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to cognitive impairment following traumatic brain injury in rats**☆

BACKGROUND： In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） can promote survival and differentiation of cholinergic, dopaminergic and motor neurons, and axonal regeneration. BDNF has neuroprotective effects on the nervous system. OBJECTIVE： To explore changes in BDNF expression and cognitive function in rats after brain injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The neuropathology experiment was performed at the Second Research Room, Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University （China） from July 2007 to July 2008. MATERIALS： A total of 72 healthy, male, Sprague Dawley, rats were selected for this study. METHODS： Rat models of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury were created by percussion, according to Feeney＇s method （n = 24, each group）. A bone window was made in rats from the sham operation group （n = 24）, but no attack was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At days 1, 2, 4 and 7 following injury, BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was examined by immunohistochemistry （streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method）. Changes in rat cognitive function were assessed by the walking test, balance-beam test and memory function detection. RESULTS： Cognitive impairment was aggravated at day 2, and recovered to normal at days 3 and 7 in rats from the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was increased at 1 day, decreased at day 2, and then gradually increased in the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression was greater in rats from the moderate traumatic brain injury group than in the sham operation and mild traumatic brain injury groups （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain is correlated to cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. BDNF has a protective effect on cognitive function in rats following i     

Neuroprotective effects of lithium treatment following hypoxic–ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats

Purpose  

Increasing evidence indicates that lithium is a neuroprotective agent against transient focal and global ischemic injury in the adult animal. In the developing brain, lithium has shown protective effects against neuroapoptosis induced by drugs. This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of lithium on hypoxic–ischemic brain injury in the neonatal rat.     

Anti-apoptotic effects of aspirin following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats☆

BACKGROUND： The pharmacological effects of aspirin on apoptosis are complex. The underlying mechanisms have not been properly defined. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of different doses of aspirin on brain cell apoptosis following focal cerebral iscbemia-reperfusion injury （CIRI） in rats. DESING, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment, performed at the School of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Jiangnan University between June and October 2006. MATERIALS： Twenty-six male, adult, Sprague Dawley rats （grade Ⅱ）, weighing 240-290 g, were obtained from Shanghai Experimental Animal Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Aspirin was provided by Sigma （USA）. METHODS： The rats were randomly divided into four groups： sham-operation （SO）, CIRI ＋ vehicle, CIRI ＋ aspirin （6 mg/kg）, and CIRI ＋ aspirin （60 mg/kg）. Rats in the lesion groups were intragastrically administrated saline, aspirin （6 mg/kg）, or aspirin （60 mg/kg）, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The number of pyramidal neurons with normal appearance in the cerebral cortex at 24 mm from the midline; apoptotic cell death as measured by TUNEL; Bcl-2 and Bax protein localization was determined by immunohistochemistry; malondialdehyde （MDA） and super oxidation （SOD） content were determined by biochemistry method; adenosine triphosphate （ATP） content measured by capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS： Following CIRI, the following parameters were altered compared with sham-operated animals： the number of neurons with normal appearance was significantly reduced in the cerebral cortex; the number of apoptotic cells increased; Bax protein expression was enhanced; and the ratio between Bcl-2 and Bax decreased. In addition, MDA content increased significantly, whereas ATP content decreased （P 〈 0.01）. Aspirin ameliorated the loss of healthy pyramidal neurons. Both 6 and 60 mg/kg aspirin increased the ratio between Bcl-2 and Bax, with no significant difference between the treatment group     

Neuroprotective effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on facial motoneurons after facial nerve injury in rats★

BACKGROUND： Erythropoietin and recombinant human erythropoietin （rhEPO） inhibit apoptosis of motor neurons caused by spinal cord injury and brain damage in rats. However, it still remains to be shown whether rhEPO can protect facial motoneurons （FMNs） as Well. OBJECTIVE： To test the neuroprotective effects of rhEPO on injured VMNs, as well as the influence on Caspase-3 expression. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized, controlled, animal experiment. This study was performed at the Central Laboratory of Basic Medical College, Chongqing Medical University from January to October 2007. MATERIALS： Seventy-five female SD rats, weighing 210-230 g. rhEPO injection was provided by Sansheng pharmaceuticals company, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China, and the License number was HMLN S20010001. METHODS： A total of 75 female rats were randomly divided into rhEPO treatment, control, and sham operation groups, with 25 rats in each group. Rat models of facial nerve injury were established in the rhEPO treatment group and the control group by crushing the main trunk of the left facial nerve. Surgical microscopic observation of the facial nerve damage displayed perineurial disruption. The left stylomastoid foramen of the sham operation group were only exposed, but without nerve injury. The rhEPO treatment group was treated with rhEPO （5 000 U/kg, i.p.） once following injury and once a day for two weeks. The control and sham operation groups were treated with the same dose of normal saline （i.p.）, once following injury and once a day for two weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Rats were sacrificed 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, FMN survival after facial nerve injury was analyzed by Toluidine blue staining, and then survival ratios （L/R） were calculated. The number of apoptotic profiles in the injured FMNs were evaluated by TUNEL staining. Expression of Caspase-3 in the facial nucleus was detected by immunohistochemistry methods. RESULTS： A total of 75 rats were included in the final analysi     

Effect of nicorandil on infarct volume and marker enzyme activity in mitochondria of rats with cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury★

BACKGROUND： Recent studies have suggested that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K＋ channel openers could reduce myocardium infarct size, and protect the function of the mitochondria. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the changes of cerebral infarction volume and the activity of marker enzymes in brain mitochondria of rats given the ATP-sensitive K＋ channel opener, nicorandil, before focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion （I/R）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized, controlled animal experiment, completed at the Brain Scientific Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July to November 2007. MATERIALS： Sixty healthy male Wistar rats weighing 280-300 g. Nicorandil, 5-hydroxydecanoate （5-HD） and cytochrome C were purchased from Sigma in the USA. Standard malondialdehyde （MDA） and protein were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Biotechnology Institute. METHODS： Sixty rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） group, a nicorandil group and a nicorandil＋5-HD group. MCAO for 2 hours was performed in the MCAO group, nicorandil group and nicorandil＋5-HD group. A total of 5 mL saline were given to the MCAO group before MCAO. The nicorandil group was injected with the ATP-sensitive K＋ channel opener nicorandil 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes before MCAO. The nicorandil＋5-HD group was injected with 5-HD 10 mg/kg intravenously 15 minutes before the same treatment as the nicorandil group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Infarct volume by total brain slice calculation, activities of succinate dehydrogenase （SDH） and cytochrome oxidase （CO）, and content of MDA were observed at 22 hours of reperfusion after 2 hours MCAO. RESULTS： Sixty rats were included in the final analysis, without any loss. （1） Infarct volume： compared with the MCAO group and nicorandil＋5-HD group, the percentage of infarct volume was significantly decreased in the nicorandil group （P 〈 0.01）. （2） The content of MDA, expression of     

Effects of Jisuikang on hemorheology and inflammatory factors in rats following spinal cord injury*☆

BACKGROUND： Trauma can damage the spinal cord or cauda equina to different degrees. Previous studies have verified that traditional Chinese medicine has effects on spinal cord injury via a variety of pathways. OBJECTIVE： To observe changes in hemorheology and inflammatory factors in spinal cord injury rats following treatment with the Chinese medicine Jisuikang, to verify the dose-dependent effect of Jisuikang, and to compare its effects with the effects of prednisone. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized study was performed at the Research Institute of Orthopedics, and Experimental Center of First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China from September 2007 to March 2008. MATERIALS： Jisuikang powdered extract, composed of milkvetch root （30 g）, Chinese angelica （12 g）, red peony root （12 g）, earthworm （10 g）, szechwan lovage rhizome （10 g）, peach seed （10 g） and safflower （10 g） was provided by the Experimental Center, First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese medicine. Each gram of powdered extract was equivalent to 6.47 g crude drug. METHODS： A total of 72 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups （n = 12）. Rat models of spinal cord injury were established using the occlusion method. Rats in the model group were treated with distilled water. Rats in the 25 g/kg, 12.5 g/kg, and 6.25 g/kg Jisuikang groups were given 25 g＆g, 12.5 g/kg, or 6.25 g/kg Jisuikang by gavage, for 14 days. Rats in the prednisone group received 0.06 g/kg prednisone by gavage, for 7 days. Rats in the normal group were given the same volume of distilled water. The volume of administration was 15 mL/kg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Rat serum interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor- α （TNF-α ）, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase levels, malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity and whole blood viscosity were measured in each group. Spinal cord around the site of the model was collected. Half the     

Preemptive analgesic effects of low-dose ketamine on growth-associated protein expression in dorsal root ganglion of chronic constriction injury model rats★

BACKGROUND： Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptor antagonists and plays an important role in the treatment of pain. OBJECTIVE： To analyze the preemptive analgesic effects of different doses of ketamine on growth-associated protein-43 （GAP43） expression in dorsal root ganglion in a rat model of chronic sciatic nerve constricted injury, and to study the differences between high-dose and low-dose ketamine DESIGN： Randomized controlled animal study. SETTING： Medical College of Shantou University. MATERIALS： Thirty-five adult male Sprague Dawley rats were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ketamine hydrochloride injection was provided by Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu. METHODS： This study was performed at the Immunological Laboratory, Medical College of Shantou University from September to December 2006. Model of chronic sciatic nerve constricted injury： after anesthesia, the right sciatic nerve was exposed and ligated l-cm distal to the ischiadic tuberosity with a No. 3-0 cat gut suture. Grouping and intervention： 35 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups： normal control group （n = 5）, chronic constriction injury （CCI） group （n = 10）, low-dose ketamine group （n = 10）, and high-dose ketamine group （n = 10）. Rats in the normal control group did not undergo any surgery or drug intervention. Rats in the CCI group received intraperitoneal injection of saline （1 mL）, and their sciatic nerves were ligated after 10 minutes. Rats in the low-dose ketamine group underwent intraperitoneal injection of ketamine （25 mg/kg） 10 minutes prior to ligation of sciatic nerve; while, rats in the high-dose ketamine group were given intraperitoneal injection of ketamine （50 mg/kg） 10 minutes prior to ligation of sciatic nerve. On the third and the seventh days after surgery, dorsal root ganglion were resected from the sciatic nerve and cut into sections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：     

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.     

黄芪对大鼠脑外伤后脑组织线粒体酶活性影响的研究

目的　探讨黄芪对大鼠创伤性脑损伤后脑组织线粒体酶活性水平的影响。方法　建立大鼠自由落体脑挫裂伤模型 ,伤后立即腹腔注射黄芪注射液 ,采用生化检测的方法分别测定治疗后 4小时、2 4小时和 4 8小时及各自的对照组大鼠脑组织线粒体ATP酶和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活性以及丙二醛 (MDA)水平。结果　黄芪治疗后 2 4小时和 4 8小时大鼠脑组织线粒体ATP酶和SOD活性均高于各自时间点对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1) ,而MDA水平则明显低于各自对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　黄芪可以通过影响线粒体功能而减轻大鼠创伤性脑损伤后的继发性脑损害 ,从而改善预后     

黄体酮对创伤性脑损伤大鼠神经细胞凋亡的影响

目的 观察黄体酮对脑外伤后神经细胞凋亡的影响,探讨其对脑外伤(TBI)继发性脑损伤是否存在保护作用.方法 雄性Wistar 大鼠随机分为无脑损伤的假手术(sham)组、脑损伤(TBI)组、脑损伤后注射黄体酮治疗(P-TBI)组及注射二甲基亚砜(DMSO)溶剂(D-TBI)组,每大组24 只,再分1 d、3 d、5 d 和7 d 四个小组,每小组6 只.采用Freeney 法造成鼠脑挫裂伤模型,在伤后四个不同时相点用TUNEL 染色法分别检测四组大鼠脑组织中神经细胞凋亡情况.结果 创伤性脑损伤后凋亡细胞数量在TBI 第1 d 明显增加,TBI后第7 d 神经细胞凋亡达到高峰.伤后注射黄体酮治疗组神经细胞凋亡指数明显下降(P ＜0.05).结论 大鼠TBI 后周围脑组织神经细胞凋亡在伤后持续增加,注射黄体酮能抑制细胞凋亡,对脑组织有一定保护作用.     

Therapeutic effects of environmental enrichment on cognitive function and tissue integrity following severe traumatic brain injury in rats

Postinjury environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to alter functional and anatomical outcomes in a number of injury paradigms, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). The question of whether EE alters functional outcome following TBI in a model which produces overt histopathological consequences has not been addressed. We investigated this question using the severe, parasagittal fluid percussion injury (FPI) model. Rats (n = 7 per group, enriched and standard for behavior; n = 15 per group for histology) underwent severe (2.2-2.6 atm) FPI, with sham-operated rats (n = 7 per group, enriched and standard for behavior; n = 6 enriched, n = 3 standard for histology) serving as controls. Animals were allowed to recover for 11 days either in standard single housing or together (injured and sham) in an enriched environment consisting of a 92 x 61 x 77-cm ferret cage filled with various stimulatory objects. Consistent with earlier reports, injured animals recovering in the enriched environment showed significantly (P < 0.05) shorter latencies to find the platform in a Morris Water Maze task versus injured/standard animals on day 12 post-TBI. However, both injured groups showed significant deficits versus sham groups (P < 0.05). There were no differences between the sham/enriched and sham/standard groups. No significant group differences in swim speed were observed. At 14 days post-TBI, enriched animals had approximately twofold smaller lesion areas in regions of the cerebral cortex posterior to the injury epicenter (-4.5, -5.8, -6.8 mm relative to bregma; P < 0.05) compared to injured/standard animals. In addition, overall lesion volume for the entire injured cortical hemisphere was significantly smaller in animals recovering in the enriched environment. These results indicate that noninvasive environmental stimulation is beneficial in attenuating cognitive deficits and preserving tissue integrity in a TBI model which causes cerebral contusion and cell death.     

盐酸多奈哌齐治疗轻、中型脑外伤后认知障碍的临床研究

目的探讨盐酸多奈哌齐对轻、中型脑外伤患者伤后认知障碍及临床预后的影响。方法本组轻、中型脑外伤合并认知障碍患者78例,随机分成治疗组和对照组,治疗组应用盐酸多奈哌齐,对照组应用吡拉西坦,两组的治疗周期为12周。治疗前及治疗后分别应用简明精神状态检测量表（MMSE）、国人修订成人韦氏智力量表（WAIS-RC）和格拉斯哥预后评分（GOS）评价疗效。结果两组治疗后12周MMSE和WAIS-RC评分均较治疗前提高（P〈0.05）。治疗组MMSE和WAIS-RC评分提高较对照组明显（P〈0.05）,治疗组GOS预后优良率优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论盐酸多奈哌齐对轻、中型脑外伤后认知障碍有积极治疗作用,并能改善临床预后。     

Correlation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to cognitive impairment following traumatic brain injury in rats

BACKGROUND: In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can promote survival and differentiation of cholinergic, dopaminergic and motor neurons, and axonal regeneration. BDNF has neuroprotective effects on the nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in BDNF expression and cognitive function in rats after brain injury DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The neuropathology experiment was performed at the Second Research Room, Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University (China) from July 2007 to July 2008. MATERIALS: A total of 72 healthy, male, Sprague Dawley, rats were selected for this study. METHODS: Rat models of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury were created by percussion, according to Feeney's method (n = 24, each group). A bone window was made in rats from the sham operation group (n = 24), but no attack was conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At days 1,2, 4 and 7 following injury, BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was examined by immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method). Changes in rat cognitive function were assessed by the walking test, balance-beam test and memory function detection. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was aggravated at day 2, and recovered to normal at days 3 and 7 in rats from the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain was increased at 1 day, decreased at day 2, and then gradually increased in the mild and moderate traumatic brain injury groups. BDNF expression was greater in rats from the moderate traumatic brain injury group than in the sham operation and mild traumatic brain injury groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: BDNF expression in the rat frontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and basal forebrain is correlated to cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury. BDNF has a protective effect on cognitive function in rats following injury     

热应激预处理对离心运动大鼠骨骼肌自由基代谢的影响

背景：研究表明热预处理能够提高肌肉抗损伤的能力,但具体的机制尚不清楚。目的：观察热应激预处理对离心运动大鼠骨骼肌超氧化物歧化酶活性及丙二醛含量的影响。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组、离心运动组、预热应激+离心运动组。热应激温度为43 ℃,时间约35 min。采用-16°下坡跑台跑做大负荷间歇性离心运动,跑速为26.8 m/min,运动5 min,间歇1 min,共进行10组。分别于运动前1 h、运动后1,24,48 h取大鼠腓肠肌,采用硫代巴比妥酸法测定大鼠丙二醛含量,黄嘌呤氧化酶法测定超氧化物歧化酶活性。结果与结论：与对照组比较,离心运动组大鼠腓肠肌丙二醛含量显著增高(P < 0.05),并随运动后时间的延长逐渐升高,超氧化物歧化酶活性随运动后时间的延长显著降低(P < 0.05)。与离心运动组比较,预热应激+离心运动组大鼠腓肠肌超氧化物歧化酶活性显著增高(P < 0.05),丙二醛含量显著降低(P < 0.05)。说明热应激预处理可增强骨骼肌超氧化物歧化酶活性,降低丙二醛含量,对离心运动损伤有保护作用。     

r—HuEPO对外伤性脑损伤大鼠凋亡基因表达的影响

目的探讨重组人促红细胞生成素（r—HuEPO）对外伤性脑损伤大鼠凋亡基因表达的影响。方法将48只健康成年雄性SD大鼠随机分成4组：r-HuEPO1000U／kg、3000U／kg、5000U／kg治疗组和生理盐水对照组。采用改良的Feeney氏法制作大鼠自由落体脑创伤模型,r—HuEPO干预。一周后麻醉取脑冻存：免疫组织化学法测定脑组织中NF—κB、C-myc和Fas／Fasl的阳性细胞及凋亡细胞数。结果与对照组相比,各组中NF—KB、Fas和Fasl阳性细胞及凋亡细胞数均有显著减少（P〈0．05）,尤其是5000U／kgr—HuEPO组减少最显著（P〈0．01）。结论r—HuEPO可抑制创伤性脑损伤大鼠NF—KB、Fas／Fasl的促凋亡作用,减轻迟发性神经元损伤,从而起到神经保护的作用。