Picroside II Exerts a Neuroprotective Effect by Inhibiting the Mitochondria Cytochrome C Signal Pathway Following Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Stroke is a common neurodegenerative disease in the wide world, and mitochondrial defects underlie the pathogenesis of ischemia, especially during reperfusion. Picroside II, the principal active component of Picrorhiza, is a traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous study demonstrated that the best therapeutic dose and time window were injection of picroside II at a dose of 10–20 mg/kg body weight following cerebral ischemia by 1.5–2.0 h. In this paper, the neuroprotective effect and the mechanism of picroside II were investigated, as well as its involvement in antioxidant and mitochondria cytochrome C (CytC) signal pathway following ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. After 24 h of cerebral I/R, the neurobehavioral function was measured by modified neurological severity score test; the content of reactive oxygen species in brain tissue was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the cerebral infarction volume was detected by TTC staining; the morphology of brain tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin; the apoptotic cells were counted by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay; the ultrastructure of the cortical brain tissues was observation by transmission electron microscopy; the expressions of CytC and Caspase-3 were determined by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot. The results indicated that picroside II could scavenge ROS contents, decrease the cerebral infarction volume and apoptotic cells, protect the structure of mitochondria, down-regulate the expression of CytC and Caspase-3 in cerebral I/R rats. It can be concluded that picroside II exerts a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting the mitochondria CytC signal pathway following ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.     

A novel neuroprotective strategy for ischemic stroke: transient mild acidosis treatment by CO2 inhalation at reperfusion

Acidosis is one of the key components in cerebral ischemic postconditioning that has emerged recently as an endogenous strategy for neuroprotection. We set out to test whether acidosis treatment at reperfusion can protect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Adult male C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to 60-minute middle cerebral arterial occlusion followed by 24-hour reperfusion. Acidosis treatment by inhaling 10%, 20%, or 30% CO₂ for 5 or 10 minutes at 5, 50, or 100 minutes after reperfusion was applied. Our results showed that inhaling 20% CO₂ for 5 minutes at 5 minutes after reperfusion-induced optimal neuroprotection, as revealed by reduced infarct volume. Attenuating brain acidosis with NaHCO₃ significantly compromised the acidosis or ischemic postconditioning-induced neuroprotection. Consistently, both acidosis-treated primary cultured cortical neurons and acute corticostriatal slices were more resistant to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion insult. In addition, acidosis inhibited ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis, caspase-3 expression, cytochrome c release to cytoplasm, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. The neuroprotection of acidosis was inhibited by the mPTP opener atractyloside both in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, these findings indicate that transient mild acidosis treatment at reperfusion protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. This neuroprotection is likely achieved, at least partly, by inhibiting mPTP opening and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.     

Evaluation of cyclosporine A in a stroke model in the immature rat brain

The effects of ischemia–reperfusion on opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and its blockade in the immature brain are not fully understood. Presently, we evaluated the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) on cell death and mPTP opening in a model of transient focal ischemia induced by permanent left middle cerebral artery, and homolateral transient common carotid artery occlusion (50 min) in P7 rats. CsA (10 mg/kg) was administered 14 h before induction of ischemia and effects were analyzed at 30–40 min and 48 h after reperfusion. CsA administration reduced infarct size, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic bodies, and inflammatory responses in mild but not severe injury. CsA increased the Ca²⁺ load required to open the mPTP (78.4 ± 19.2 vs. 50.2 ± 19.9 nmol.mg⁻¹ protein, p < 0.05) in limiting the decoupling of the respiratory chain by unchanged state 3 but reduced state 4, and attenuated early calpain-mediated alpha-spectrin proteolysis. In conclusion, CsA mediates inhibition of mPTP opening and has a tendency to protect immature rat brain against mild ischemic injury. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Interaction between repair, disease, & inflammation."     

人脐带血间充质干细胞移植对脑梗死大鼠外周血Foxp3表达的影响

目的探讨人脐带血间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSC)移植对脑梗死大鼠外周血Foxp3调节性T细胞改善缺血性脑损害的可能机制。方法选择SD大鼠40只,随机分为假手术组、对照组、生理盐水组、MSC组,每组10只。各组大鼠分别测定1 d、7 d、14 d、28 d外周血单个核细胞中Foxp3 mRNA表达和神经功能缺损评分;TUNEL法检测神经细胞凋亡数。结果 MSC组14 d、28 d神经功能缺损评分明显低于对照组及生理盐水组[(6.1±1.4)分vs(7.3±1.1)分,(7.3±0.9)分;(5.2±1.0)分vs(6.2±1.0)分,(6.3±0.5)分;P0.05];28 d凋亡细胞数明显少于对照组及生理盐水组(P0.05)。对照组、生理盐水组及MSC组1 d、7 d、14 d、28 d外周血Foxp3 mRNA表达明显高于假手术组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。MSC组1 d、7 d外周血Foxp3 mRNA表达明显高于对照组和生理盐水组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 MSC移植改善大鼠急性脑缺血神经功能恢复的机制之一,可能与上调免疫炎性反应初期Foxp3 mRNA表达有关。     

Minocycline promotes axonal regeneration through suppression of RGMa in rat MCAO/reperfusion model

Minocycline has been recently implicated in protection against focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R), but the protective effects on neurobehavioral abnormalities remains contradictory. In the present study, we investigate whether minocycline improves axonal regeneration and neurological function recovery by inhibiting the expression of the repulsive guidance molecular A (RGMa) after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 2 h and 3 mg kg^?1 minocycline was injected intravenously immediately after reperfusion twice a day for 14 days. The staircase test and modified neurological severity score (mNSS) were performed to evaluate functional outcome and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) permeability was assessed by Evan's blue dye extravasation (EB) at the expected time point. The expression of RGMa in ischemic cortex was measured by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot 2 weeks after MCAO. Neurofilament protein 200 (NF‐200) immunohistochemical staining was used to assess axonal damage. Treatment with minocycline at a dose of 3 mg kg^?1 via the caudal vein significantly reduced the extravasation of EB, elevated mNSS and improved forelimb motor function as assessed by the staircase test when compared to the I/R group (P < 0.05). Moreover, axonal regrowth was enhanced in the minocycline treatment group when compared to the I/R group (P < 0.05). In addition, minocycline significantly reduced the expression of RGMa protein 2 weeks after MCAO as assessed by both immunostaining and Western blot. Our studies suggest that early minocycline treatment promotes neurological functional recovery and axonal regeneration in rats after MCAO, which might be mediated by down‐regulating RGMa expression. Synapse, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mild hypoxemia during initial reperfusion alleviates the severity of secondary energy failure and protects brain in neonatal mice with hypoxic-ischemic injury

Reperfusion triggers an oxidative stress. We hypothesized that mild hypoxemia in reperfusion attenuates oxidative brain injury following hypoxia-ischemia (HI). In neonatal HI-mice, the reperfusion was initiated by reoxygenation with room air (RA) followed by the exposure to 100%, 21%, 18%, 15% oxygen for 60 minutes. Systemic oxygen saturation (SaO₂), cerebral blood flow (CBF), brain mitochondrial respiration and permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, markers of oxidative injury, and cerebral infarcts were assessed. Compared with RA-littermates, HI-mice exposed to 18% oxygen exhibited significantly decreased infarct volume, oxidative injury in the brain mitochondria and tissue. This was coupled with improved mitochondrial tolerance to mPTP opening. Oxygen saturation maintained during reperfusion at 85% to 95% was associated (r=0.57) with the best neurologic outcome. Exposure to 100% or 15% oxygen significantly exacerbated brain injury and oxidative stress. Compared with RA-mice, hyperoxia dramatically increased reperfusion CBF, but exposure to 15% oxygen significantly reduced CBF to values observed during the HI-insult. Mild hypoxemia during initial reperfusion alleviates the severity of HI-brain injury by limiting the reperfusion-driven oxidative stress to the mitochondria and mPTP opening. This suggests that at the initial stage of reperfusion, a slightly decreased systemic oxygenation (SaO₂ 85% to 95%) may be beneficial for infants with birth asphyxia.     

Ropinirole induces neuroprotection following reperfusion-promoted mitochondrial dysfunction after focal cerebral ischemia in Wistar rats

Stroke is characterized by an initial ischemia followed by a reperfusion that promotes cascade of damage referred to as primary injury. The loss of mitochondrial function after ischemia, which is characterized by oxidative stress and activation of apoptotic factors is considered to play a crucial role in the proliferation of secondary injury and subsequent brain neuronal cell death. Dopamine D2 receptor agonist, Ropinirole, has been found to promote neuroprotection in Parkinson´s disease and restless leg syndrome. The current study was designed to test its efficacy in preclinical model of stroke. Previously it has been demonstrated that Ropinirole mediates its neuroprotection via mitochondrial pathways. Assuming this, we investigated the effect of Ropinirole on mitochondrial dysfunction, we have shown the positive effect of Ropinirole administration on behavioral deficits and mitochondrial health in an ischemic stroke injury model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Male Wistar rats underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and then received the Ropinirole (10 mg and 20 mg/kg b.w.) at 6 h, 12 and 18 h post occlusion. Behavioral assessment for functional deficits included grip strength, motor coordination and gait analysis. Our findings revealed a significant improvement with Ropinirole treatment in tMCAO animals. Staining of isolated brain slices from Ropinirole-treated rats with 2, 3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) showed a reduction in the infarct area in comparison to the vehicle group, indicating the presence of an increased number of viable mitochondria. Ropinirole treatment was also able to attenuate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as block the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), in the tMCAO injury model. In addition, it was also able to ameliorate the altered mitochondrial membrane potential and respiration ratio in the ischemic animals, thereby suggesting that Ropinirole has a positive effect on mitochondrial bioenergetics. Ropinirole inhibited the translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol reduces the downstream apoptotic processes. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Ropinirole treatment is beneficial in preserving the mitochondrial functions that are altered in cerebral ischemic injury and thus can help in defining better therapies.     

Augmentation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with comorbid type 2 diabetes

Abstract

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Objective: Diabetes is one of the major risk factors for ischemic stroke and is reported to aggravate the ischemic brain damage in different experimental models as well as clinical situations. However, the mechanisms underlying the exacerbated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) brain injury associated with comorbid diabetes are still not clear. This study investigated the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in pathophysiology of aggravated I/R brain injury associated with diabetes.

Methods: Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hours followed by 22 hours of reperfusion in high-fat diet-fed and low-dose streptozotocin-treated type 2 diabetic rats. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis were performed to detect the changes in expression of various ER stress and apoptotic markers such as 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein or growth arrest DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (CHOP/GADD153), and caspase-12. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to detect the extent of DNA fragmentation and cell death.

Results: The diabetic rats subjected to I/R manifested significantly larger brain infarct volume and severe deterioration in neurological deficits than their normal, non-diabetic counterparts. There was a marked upregulation of GRP78 observed in brains of diabetic rats after 22 hours of reperfusion. Furthermore, augmentation of CHOP/GADD153 expression and activation of caspase-12 (ER stress-induced apoptotic factors) were observed in parallel with enhanced TUNEL-positive cells or DNA fragmentation in diabetic rats compared to normal rats following cerebral I/R.

Discussion: Taken together, the current experimental findings demonstrate that diabetes exacerbates brain I/R injury which may be mediated through enhanced ER stress and cell death involving CHOP/GADD153 and caspase-12 activation.     

丁苯酞对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠MMP-9活性和血脑屏障通透性的影响

目的探讨丁苯酞对脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠的保护作用。方法通过线栓法制备大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤模型,腹腔注射丁苯酞,于脑缺血再灌注后6h、12h、24h后用免疫组织化学的方法观察损伤侧脑组织MMP-9活性及基底膜成分Ⅳ型(collagenⅣ)胶原表达的变化。同时测定伊文思兰的含量观察损伤侧脑组织血脑屏障通透性。结果随缺血再灌注时间延长,MMP-9活性、EB含量逐渐增加,24h达峰,Ⅳ型胶原的表达逐渐减少,各组之间表达均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);丁苯酞处理组MMP-9活性、EB含量各个时间点明显低于缺血再灌注组,相同时间点Ⅳ型胶原的表达增加(P<0.05)。结论丁苯酞可抑制脑缺血再灌注损伤大鼠MMP-9的表达,增加基底膜Ⅳ型胶原的表达,降低血脑屏障通透性,从而发挥脑保护作用。     

Influence of the duration of ischemia and reperfusion on infarct volume and microvascular damage in mice

OBJECTIVES: Focal cerebral ischemia is responsible for alterations of vascular permeability, and the loss of microvascular integrity is a primary source of subsequent hemorrhages. We evaluated the influence of different durations of ischemia and reperfusion on infarction size and microvascular damage after focal cerebral ischemia in the mouse.METHODS: C57BL/6 mice (n=39) were subjected to focal cerebral ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R). Consecutive brain sections were analysed for infarction volumes (Nissl-staining) and for collagen type IV (immunohistochemistry and western blot).RESULTS: Infarction size (percentage of the infarction volume versus ipsilateral hemisphere) increased with total time of ischemia and reperfusion: 19+/-2% (I3R0), 30+/-2% (I3R3), 36+/-4% (I3R12), 41+/-4% (I1R24), 45+/-6% (I2R24) and 58+/-2% (I3R24). The ischemic hemispheres showed a significant progressive reduction of collagen type IV positive vessels (ischemic versus non-ischemic contralateral area): 90+/-3% (I3R0), 88+/-1% (I3R3), 82+/-3% (I3R12), 85+/-3% (I1R24), 79+/-3% (I2R24), 72+/-2% (I3R24).CONCLUSIONS: Both prolonged ischemia and reperfusion lead to an increased infarction volume, as well as progressive microvascular damage.     

Role of mitochondrial calcium uniporter in regulating mitochondrial fission in the cerebral cortexes of living rats

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) transports Ca²⁺ from the cytoplasm to the mitochondrial matrix and thus maintains Ca²⁺ homeostasis. Previous studies have reported that inhibition of MCU by ruthenium red (RR) protects the brain from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and that mitochondrial fission plays an important role in I/R injury. However, it is still not known whether MCU affects mitochondrial fission. In the present study, treatment with RR was found to decrease the concentration of free calcium in the mitochondria, calcineurin enzyme activity and dynamin-related protein 1 expression, and treatment with spermine was found to have the opposite effect in organisms subjected to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery lasting 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. These results indicate that MCU may be related to mitochondrial fission via modulating mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake and this relationship between MCU and mitochondrial fission may protect the brain from I/R injury.     

Specific Role of Tight Junction Proteins Claudin-5, Occludin,and ZO-1 of the Blood–Brain Barrier in a Focal Cerebral Ischemic Insult

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage plays a key role in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. It is quite necessary to further explore the characteristic and mechanism of BBB leakage during stroke. We induced a focal cerebral ischemia model by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in male rats for defining the time course of BBB permeability within 120 h following reperfusion and evaluate the specific role of tight junction (TJ) associated proteins claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 as well as protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) pathway in BBB leakage induced by reperfusion injury. We verified a bimodal increase in the permeability of the BBB following focal ischemia by Evans blue assay. Two peaks of BBB permeability appeared at 3 h and 72 h of reperfusion after 2 h focal ischemia, respectively. The leak at the endothelial cell was represented at the level of transmission electron microscopy. TTC staining results showed increased infarct size with time after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The mRNA and protein expression levels of these three TJ associated proteins were significantly decreased compared with the sham-operated group within 120 h of reperfusion, corresponding to the time-dependent change of the biphasic pattern in BBB leakage. The redistribution of claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 in ischemia brain microvascular endothelial cells was observed at the same time points. In addition, Western blot assay revealed PKCδ level was also significantly increased in a similar biphasic pattern to above results within 120 h after cerebral ischemia–reperfusion. This study demonstrates the timing of TJ associated proteins claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1 in light of BBB permeability associated with cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and suggests PKCδ pathway may participate in TJ barrier open and BBB leakage during reperfusion injury in a time-dependent manner.     

孕酮对局灶脑缺血再灌注大鼠血—脑脊液屏障变化的影响

目的探讨孕酮（PROG）减轻缺血/再灌注（I/R）时脑水肿的机制。方法采用大鼠局灶性脑I/R模型,分光光度计定量测定大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO)2h再灌注22h后脑皮层伊文思蓝（EB）含量的变化及PROG的影响。结果MCAO侧EB含量I/R组为5.89±1.37μg/g湿重,溶剂（DMSO)组为5.03±2.70μg/g湿重,PROG组为2.07±0.96μg/g湿重;PROG组显著低于I/R组和DMSO组（P<0.05）。结论PROG显著降低缺血2h再灌注22h时血-脑脊液屏障（BBB）的通透性,这可能是其减轻I/R时脑水肿的机制之一。     

Diazoxide preconditioning attenuates global cerebral ischemia-induced blood-brain barrier permeability

Brain edema formation due to blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a major consequence of cerebral ischemia. Previously, we demonstrated that targeting mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoK(ATP)) protects neuronal tissues in vivo and in vitro, however, the effects of mitoK(ATP) openers on cerebral endothelial cells and on BBB functions have never been examined. We investigated the effects of mitoK(ATP) channel opener diazoxide on BBB functions during ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). Rats were treated with 6, 20 or 40 mg/kg diazoxide ip for 3 days then exposed to global cerebral ischemia for 30 min. BBB permeability was assessed by administering Evan's-blue (EB) and Na-fluorescein (NaF) at the beginning of the 30 min reperfusion. I/R increased BBB permeability for the large molecular weight EB (ng/mg) in the cortex (control: 146 +/- 12, n = 7; I/R: 1049 +/- 152, n = 11) which was significantly attenuated in diazoxide-treated rats (575 +/- 99, n = 9; 582 +/- 104, n = 8; 20 and 40 mg/kg doses). Diazoxide pretreatment also significantly inhibited the extravasation of the low molecular weight NaF. Edema formation in the cortex was also decreased after diazoxide pretreatment. In cultured cerebral endothelial cells, diazoxide depolarized the mitochondrial membrane, suggesting a direct diazoxide effect on the endothelial mitochondria. Our results demonstrate that preconditioning of cerebral endothelium with diazoxide protects the BBB against ischemic stress.     

Anemonin Alleviates Nerve Injury After Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion (I/R) in Rats by Improving Antioxidant Activities and Inhibiting Apoptosis Pathway

In the present study, we aimed at evaluating the potential neuroprotective effect and the underlying mechanism of anemonin against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Anemonin was administered to rats by the intraperitoneally (i.p.) route once daily for 7 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 90 min of MCAO followed by 24 h of reperfusion. After that, animals were sacrificed by decapitation, brain was removed, and various biochemical estimations, neurological status, and assessment of cerebral infarct size were carried out. MCAO followed by 24 h of reperfusion caused a significant increase in infarct size, neurological deficit score, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and DNA fragmentation, as well as a decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in the brain. Furthermore, elevated Bax expression, increased caspase-3 cleavage, and decreased Bcl-2 expression were observed in nontreated rats in response to focal cerebral I/R injury. However, pretreatment with anemonin significantly reversed these levels of biochemical parameters, reduced cerebral infarct size, and improved the neurologic score in cerebral ischemic animals. Additionally, a wide distribution of anemonin in plasma and brain tissues and the brain-to-plasma partition coefficient (Ri) ratio of 0.7 at 90 min indicated that this compound could penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These results showed that pretreatment with anemonin provided a significant protection against cerebral I/R injury in rats by, at least in part, its antioxidant action and consequent inhibition of apoptosis.     

阿托伐他汀钙对实验性脑缺血MMP-9表达变化的影响

目的探讨阿托伐他汀钙对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后脑组织中MMP-9mRNA及蛋白表达的影响。方法采用大脑中动脉线栓法制备脑缺血再灌注模型,参考Longa5分制法在动物麻醉清醒后进行评分,应用原位杂交和免疫组化法检测MMP-9mRNA及蛋白表达。结果大鼠脑缺血再灌注后缺血脑组织中MMP-9mRNA和蛋白表达增加(P<0.01),24h达高峰;阿托伐他汀钙干预治疗后能减少缺血脑组织中MMP-9mRNA和蛋白表达(P<0.05);降低神经功能缺损评分(P<0.05)。结论阿托伐他汀钙能抑制大鼠脑缺血再灌注后脑组织中MMP-9mRNA及蛋白表达,减轻缺血再灌损伤。     

缺血后处理对糖尿病大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤线粒体的影响

目的观察缺血后处理(I-Post)对糖尿病大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤线粒体超微结构和功能的影响,探讨I-Post诱导的脑保护的可能机制。方法采用链脲佐菌(STZ)腹腔注射建立糖尿病大鼠模型,在此基础上通过线栓法建立大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞/再灌注模型。SD糖尿病大鼠随机分为4组(n=10),空白对照组、假手术组、缺血再灌注组(I/R组)、缺血后处理组(I-Post组)。于缺血90min再灌注6h后电镜下观察线粒体超微结构、测定缺血侧脑组织线粒体中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、丙二醛(MDA)、Na+/K+-ATPase和Ca2+-ATPase活性。结果缺血后处理能明显减轻I/R引起的线粒体超微结构的损伤,提高线粒体SOD、GSH-Px、Na+/K+-ATPase和Ca2+-ATPase的活性(P<0.05或0.0),降低MDA的含量(P<0.05)。结论线粒体可能在I-Post诱导的脑保护中起关键性作用,I-Post诱导的脑保护机制可能与SOD、Na+/K+-ATP酶、Ca2+-ATP酶和GSH-Px活性增加有关。     

Neuronal apoptosis in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion area following electrical stimulation of fastigial nucleus

Previous studies have indicated that electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus in rats may reduce brain infarct size, increase the expression of Ku70 in cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion area, and decrease the number of apoptotic neurons. However, the anti-apoptotic mechanism of Ku70 remains unclear. In this study, fastigial nucleus stimulation was given to rats 24, 48, and 72 hours before cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Results from the electrical stim- ulation group revealed that rats exhibited a reduction in brain infarct size, a significant increase in the expression of KuT0 in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion regions, and a decreased number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL）-positive cells. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed no co-localization of Ku70 with TUNEL-positive cells. However, Ku70 partly co-localized with Bax protein in the cytoplasm of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. These findings suggest an involvement of Ku70 with Bax in the cy- toplasm of rats exposed to electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus, and may thus provide an understanding into the anti-apoptotic activity of KuT0 in cerebral ischemia/reperfu- sion injury.     

依达拉奉对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后细胞凋亡及caspase-3蛋白表达的影响

目的 探讨依达拉奉对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤后神经功能损伤、细胞凋亡及caspasc-3蛋白表达的影响.方法 雄性SD大鼠24只采用随机数字表法分为假手术组、脑缺血再灌注组、生理盐水治疗组、依达拉奉治疗组,每组6只.除假手术组外,其余3组均采用大脑中动脉线栓法制作大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤模型.依达拉奉治疗组于脑缺血开始时及再灌注后12 h分别腹腔注射依达拉奉3 mg/kg,生理盐水治疗组同时间注射等量生理盐水;假手术组同样过程造模,但不插入尼龙线造成缺血.造模后24 h后进行大鼠神经行为学评分;应用免疫组织化学及Western blot检测caspase-3蛋白表达水平的变化;利用原位缺口末端标记法(TUNEL法)研究神经细胞凋亡的变化.结果 与脑缺血再灌注组及生理盐水治疗组相比,依达拉奉治疗组大鼠神经行为学评分明显减少,caspase-3免疫阳性细胞及蛋白表达明显减少,凋亡细胞也减少,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 依达拉奉能有效减轻脑缺血灌注损伤后神经细胞凋亡.改善神经功能缺损症状,推测其机制与抑制caspase-3蛋白表达有关.