Consistency between magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted images and pathological findings in a hyperacute cerebral infarction rabbit model

BACKGROUND： Because magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging is sensitive to water molecule movement, it has particular advantages for early diagnosis of cerebral infarction. However, the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient changes with ischemia time, particularly relative apparent diffusion coefficient and tissue pathological changes remains controversial. OBJECTIVE： To explore the correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient changes and pathologic changes in hyperacute cerebral infarction. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment of neuroimaging. The study was performed at the Laboratory of Radiology Department, Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen from October 2007 to October 2008. MATERIALS： Magnetic resonance scanner was purchased from Philips Medical Systems, Best, the Netherlands. METHODS： A total of 42 healthy, adult, New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into sham-operation, ischemia 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-hour groups, with six animals in each group. Local cerebral ischemia model was established by right middle cerebral artery occlusion, and cranial MRI scanning and pathologic observation were performed, respectively, at 0.5, 1,2, 3, 4, and 6 hours following ischemia. The middle cerebral artery of sham-operation group was only exposed, but not occluded. Images at the above-mentioned time points were also collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Apparent diffusion coefficient and relative apparent diffusion coefficient values of abnormal signal on diffusion-weighted imaging were calculated and compared with pathological changes in the ischemic region. RESULTS： No abnormal diffusion-weighted imaging signals or pathological changes were observed in the sham-operation group. Abnormal signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging was first observed in the 0.5-hour group. Apparent diffusion coefficient and relative apparent diffusion coefficient values decreased in all middle cerebral artery occlusion rabbits and reached lowest levels at 3 hours, followed by a gradual increase. The right ischemic basal ganglia region with high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging extended with increasing time of occlusion, and the pathologic outcome corresponded with MRI changes. CONCLUSION： Relative apparent diffusion coefficient values changed regularly with ischemia time and displayed good correspondence to pathological manifestations.     

Neuroprotective effect of Cerebralcare Granule after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Cerebralcare Granule(CG) improves cerebral microcirculation and relieves vasospasm,but studies investigating its therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury are lacking.In the present study,we administered CG(0.3,0.1 and 0.03 g/m L intragastrically) to rats for 7 consecutive days.We then performed transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery,followed by reperfusion,and administered CG daily for a further 3 or 7 days.Compared with no treatment,high-dose CG markedly improved neurological function assessed using the Bederson and Garcia scales.At 3 days,animals in the high-dose CG group had smaller infarct volumes,greater interleukin-10 expression,and fewer interleukin-1β-immunoreactive cells than those in the untreated model group.Furthermore,at 7 days,high-dose CG-treated rats had more vascular endothelial growth factor-immunoreactive cells,elevated angiopoietin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression,and improved blood coagulation and flow indices compared with untreated model animals.These results suggest that CG exerts specific neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

褪黑素对SD大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后c-fos表达的影响

目的探讨褪黑素在大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤中的神经保护作用及可能机制。方法选取45只雄性SD大鼠,分为假手术组(5只)、脑缺血再灌注组(20只)、褪黑素干预组(20只);脑缺血再灌注组和褪黑素干预组根据时间点第6小时、第1天、第3天、第7天分为4个组,每组5只。采用Longa线栓法建立大鼠左侧大脑中动脉栓塞(MCAO)模型,采用HE染色检测脑组织的病理改变,TUNEL染色检测神经细胞的凋亡,免疫组织化学(免疫组化)法及蛋白质印迹法(Western Blotting)观察大鼠脑组织内c-fos表达情况。结果在脑缺血再灌注组的各时间点的HE染色显示,胶质细胞呈现程度不一的增生,神经元出现坏死;褪黑素干预能减轻脑缺血再灌注后胶质细胞增生及神经元的坏死。在TUNEL染色凋亡检测中,脑缺血再灌注组各时间点的神经细胞凋亡升高;褪黑素干预组各时间点的细胞凋亡数低于脑缺血再灌注组(P <0.05)。在免疫组化及蛋白质印迹检测中,脑缺血再灌注组c-fos表达增加,在第1天时达到高峰,之后表达逐步降低;在褪黑素干预组,c-fos表达趋势与缺血再灌注组一致,但表达水平比缺血再灌注组相应时间点低,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论褪黑素能够减轻脑缺血再灌注后神经元的损伤,降低c-fos的表达,表明褪黑素可能通过调控c-fos的表达在脑缺血再灌注中发挥神经保护作用。     

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     

Neuroprotection of a cocktail therapy involving anti-intercellular adhesion molecule 1 antibody and insulin-like growth factor 1 in treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in cats--Nuclear magnetic resonance examination and pathological validation

BACKGROUND： The pathophysiological mechanisms of ischemia are extremely complicated. It is difficult to confirm and maintain the therapeutic effects if only one neuroprotective agent is used. It is hypothesized that a cocktail therapy involving a combined application of neuroprotective agents is feasible and offers excellent therapeutic potential. OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a cocktail therapy of insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF1） combined with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule 1 （ICAM1） antibody in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury using medical imaging, pathology, and functional neurological deficit scoring techniques. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： This randomized, controlled, neuroimaging analysis of function and pathological observation was performed at the Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Second Hospital, Hebei Medical University between September 2006 and December 2007. MATERIALS： Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO） was induced in 24 healthy adult cats. Anti-ICAM1 antibody and IGF1 were sourced from the Shanghai Kangcheng Biological Product Co., Ltd., China. Stereotaxic apparatus was purchased from the Center for Medical Apparatus and Instruments, Shandong Liaocheng People＇s Hospital, China. The in situ apoptosis kit was provided by the Beijing Zhongshan Biotechnique Co., Ltd., China. METHODS： Twenty-four cat models of MCAO were randomly divided into four groups （n = 6）： control, IGF1, anti-ICAM 1 antibody and cocktail therapy. Following a 2-hour ischemia and subsequent lateral cerebral ventricular puncture, 100 μg IGFl（cerebral ventricular）, 100 μg anti-ICAM1 antibody （i.v.）, 50 μg IGFl（lateral cerebral ventricular） ＋ 50 μg anti-ICAM1 antibody （i.v.）, and 100 μg physiological saline （i.v.） were administered to the IGF1, anti-ICAM1 antibody, cocktail therapy and control groups, respectively. On the following day, the same administration was performed again. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Pathologic     

水通道蛋白4在大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

目的研究水通道蛋白4(AQP4)在缺血再灌注损伤大鼠脑内表达及作用。方法以大脑中动脉线栓法建立大鼠缺血再灌注模型,采用干湿法测定模型的脑组织含水量及伊文氏蓝含量;免疫蛋白印记(WesternBlot)技术分析在缺血再灌注不同时程脑内AQP4的表达情况,以及AQP4与脑含水量和伊文氏蓝水平的相关性,并与对照组比较。结果与对照组相比,实验组大鼠脑组织含水量及伊文氏蓝水平在缺血再灌注后不同时间点明显高于对照组(P<0.05～0.01);AQP4蛋白表达明显增高(均P<0.05),并随着缺血再灌时间的延长,其表达量亦逐渐增加,在再灌后24～48h达到高峰。缺血再灌注后AQP4脑内的表达与脑组织含水量及伊文氏蓝水平呈正相关(r=0.38、r=0.45,均P<0.05)。结论AQP4的高表达参与了脑缺血再灌注后继发的血脑屏障的开放和脑水肿的发生,是脑水肿产生的重要分子基础。     

13-Methyltetradecanoic acid mitigates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

13-Methyltetradecanoic acid can stabilize cell membrane and have anti-inlfammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Previous studies mainly focused on peripheral nerve injury, but seldom on the central nervous system. We investigated whether these properties of 13-methyltetradecanoic acid have a neuroprotective effect on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and detected the expression of basic ifbroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. This study established rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion injury by ischemia for 2 hours and reperfusion for 24 hours. At the beginning of reperfusion, 13-methyltetradecanoic acid 10, 40 or 80 mg/kg was injected into the tail vein. Results found that various doses of 13-methyltetradecanoic acid effectively reduced infarct volume, mitigate cerebral edema, and increased the mRNA and protein expression of basic ifbroblast growth factor and vascular endothe-lial growth factor at 24 hours of reperfusion. The effect was most signiifcant in the 13-methyltetradecanoic acid 40 and 80 mg/kg groups. The ifndings suggest that 13-methyltetradecanoic acid can relieve focal ischemia/reperfusion injury immediately after reperfusion, stimu-late the upregulation of basic ifbroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor to exert neuroprotective effects.     

Neuroprotection of a cocktail therapy involving anti-intercellular adhesion molecule 1 antibody and insulin-like growth factor 1 in treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in cats Nuclear magnetic resonance examination and pathological validatio

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiological mechanisms of ischemia are extremely complicated. It is difficult to confirm and maintain the therapeutic effects if only one neuroprotective agent is used. It is hypothesized that a cocktail therapy involving a combined application of neuroprotective agents is feasible and offers excellent therapeutic potential. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a cocktail therapy of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) combined with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule...     

局灶性脑缺血/再灌注损伤后大鼠脑组织tPA表达变化与细胞凋亡研究

目的　探讨大鼠脑缺血 /再灌注后脑组织内组织型纤溶酶原激活物 (t PA)表达变化及与细胞凋亡的关系和意义。方法　采用大鼠局灶性脑缺血 /再灌注模型 ,应用免疫组化染色及原位杂交技术检测脑组织 t PA表达变化 ,TU NEL 染色观察神经元的凋亡及其发生规律。结果　 t PA蛋白及 m RNA在缺血再灌注早期即开始表达 ,主要见于皮质损伤区周围及海马区 ,阳性着色的神经元表达明显 ,血管表达较弱。再灌注 4 8h神经元表达明显增强 ,缺血灶及其周边的微血管内皮表达也明显增强。再灌注 72 h表达有所下降。凋亡细胞主要出现于大脑皮质及尾壳核病变中心区的周围 ,再灌注 4 8～ 72 h达高峰。结论　脑缺血 /再灌注损伤可诱导神经元及血管内皮细胞 t PA表达增加 ,t PA可能通过促进细胞凋亡而介导再灌注损伤。     

Neuroprotective effect ofShenqi Fuzheng injection pretreatment in aged rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Shenqi Fuzheng injection is extracted from the Chinese herbs Radix Astragali and Radix Codonopsis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Shenqi Fuzheng injection in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Aged rats(20–22 months) were divided into three groups: sham, model, and treatment. Shenqi Fuzheng injection or saline(40 m L/kg) was injected into the tail vein daily for 1 week, after which a cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model was established. Compared with model rats that received saline, rats in the treatment group had smaller infarct volumes, lower brain water and malondialdehyde content, lower brain Ca2+ levels, lower activities of serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase, and higher superoxide dismutase activity. In addition, the treatment group showed less damage to the brain tissue ultrastructure and better neurological function. Our findings indicate that Shenqi Fuzheng injection exerts neuroprotective effects in aged rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and that the underlying mechanism relies on oxygen free radical scavenging and inhibition of brain Ca2+ accumulation.     

Electroacupuncture regulates the stress-injury-repair chain of events after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Inflammation after stroke is the main cause of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cascading events after injury can lead to cell death. Heat shock protein 70 and other endogenous injury-signaling molecules are released by damaged cells, which can lead to systemic stress reactions. Protecting the brain through repair begins with the stress-injury-repair signaling chain. This study aimed to verify whether acupuncture acts through this chain to facilitate effective treatment of ischemic stroke. Rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by Zea Longa's method, and injury sites were identified by assessing neurological function, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Electroacupuncture at acupoints Baihui(DU20) and Zusanli(ST36) was performed in the model rats with dilatational waves, delivered for 20 minutes a day at 2–100 Hz and an amplitude of 2 m A. We analyzed the blood serum from the rats and found that inflammatory cytokines affected the levels of adrenotrophin and heat shock protein 70, each of which followed a similar bimodal curve. Specifically, electroacupuncture lowered the peak levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and heat shock protein 70. Thus, electroacupuncture was able to inhibit excessive stress, reduce inflammation, and promote the repair of neurons, which facilitated healing of ischemic stroke.     

神经节苷脂对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑保护作用

目的探讨神经节苷脂对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑保护作用。方法采用线栓法制作缺血再灌注大鼠模型,分别用神经节苷脂(治疗组)和生理盐水(对照组)腹腔注射。观察两组大鼠缺血90min、缺血90min再灌注24h的脑梗死面积、神经功能缺损程度、细胞凋亡数、细胞凋亡率。结果治疗组大鼠于相同时间点脑梗死面积较对照组明显减小,仅表现轻度的神经功能缺损,且神经细胞的凋亡数较对照组显著减少(均P<0.01)。结论神经节苷脂能明显减小大鼠实验性脑缺血的脑梗死面积,减轻脑缺血再灌注后神经功能缺损程度,显著减轻缺血区神经元损害,具有显著的脑保护作用。     

Doxycycline treatment in a neonatal rat model of hypoxia-ischemia reduces cerebral tissue and white matter injury: a longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging study

Doxycycline may potentially be a neuroprotective treatment for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury through its anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to examine any long-term neuroprotection by doxycycline treatment on cerebral gray and white matter. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury was induced in 7-day-old rats. Pups were treated with either doxycycline (HI+doxy) or saline (HI+vehicle) by intraperitoneal injection at 1 h after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). At 6 h after HI, MnCl(2) was injected intraperitoneally for later manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was performed with diffusion-weighted imaging on day 1 and T(1) -weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging at 7, 21 and 42 days after HI. Animals were killed after MRI on day 42 and histological examinations of the brains were performed. There was a tendency towards lower lesion volumes on diffusion maps among HI+doxy than HI+vehicle rats at 1 day after HI. Volumetric MRI showed increasing differences between groups with time after HI, with less cyst formation and less cerebral tissue loss among HI+doxy than HI+vehicle pups. HI+doxy pups had less manganese enhancement on day 7 after HI, indicating reduced inflammation. HI+doxy pups had higher fractional anisotropy on diffusion tensor imaging in major white matter tracts in the injured hemisphere than HI+vehicle pups, indicating less injury to white matter and better myelination. Histological examinations supported the MRI results. Lesion size on early MRI was highly correlated with final injury measures. In conclusion, a single dose of doxycycline reduced long-term cerebral tissue loss and white matter injury after neonatal HI, with an increasing effect of treatment with time after injury.     

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     

Puerarin protects brain tissue against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response

Puerarin, a traditional Chinese medicine, exerts a powerful neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, but its mechanism is unknown. Here, we established rat models of middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion injury using the suture method. Puerarin(100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 30 minutes before middle cerebral artery occlusion and 8 hours after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, we found that puerarin significantly improved neurological deficit, reduced infarct size and brain water content, and notably diminished the expression of Toll-like receptor-4, myeloid differentiation factor 88, nuclear factor kappa B and tumor necrosis factor-α in the ischemic region. These data indicate that puerarin exerts an anti-inflammatory protective effect on brain tissue with ischemia/reperfusion damage by downregulating the expression of multiple inflammatory factors.     

Expression profiles of microRNAs after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Rat models of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.Microarray analysis showed that 24 hours after cerebral ischemia,there were nine up-regulated and 27 down-regulated microRNA genes in cortical tissue.Bioinformatic analysis showed that bcl-2 was the target gene of microRNA-384-5p and microRNA-494,and caspase-3 was the target gene of microRNA-129,microRNA-320 and microRNA-326.Real-time PCR and western blot analyses showed that 24 hours after cerebral ischemia,bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in brain tissue were significantly decreased,while caspase-3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased.This suggests that following cerebral ischemia,differentially expressed microRNA-384-5p,microRNA-494,microRNA-320,microRNA-129 and microRNA-326 can regulate bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression in brain tissue.     

Protective effect of ginkgo proanthocyanidins against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with its antioxidant effects

Proanthocyanidins have been shown to effectively protect ischemic neurons, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Ginkgo proan-thocyanidins (20, 40, 80 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally administered 1, 24, 48 and 72 hours before reperfusion. Results showed that ginkgo proanthocyanidins could effectively mitigate neurological disorders, shorten infarct volume, increase superoxide dismutase activity, and de-crease malondialdehyde and nitric oxide contents. Simultaneously, the study on grape seed proanthocyanidins (40 mg/kg) conifrmed that different sources of proanthocyanidins have a similar effect. The neurological outcomes of ginkgo proanthocyanidins were similar to that of nimodipine in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our results suggest that ginkgo proanthocyanidins can effectively lessen cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and protect ischemic brain tissue and these effects are associated with antioxidant properties.     

动员自体骨髓干细胞对大鼠脑缺血／再灌注损伤及细胞凋亡的影响

目的 探讨应用G-CSF动员自体骨髓干细胞对大鼠脑缺血／再灌注损伤及细胞凋亡的影响。方法 应用线栓法制备大鼠局灶性大脑中动脉栓塞／再灌注(MCAO／R)模型，应用粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-GSF)刺激自体骨髓干细胞分裂增殖，并用5-溴脱氧尿核苷(Brdu)标记。观察大鼠神经病学评分，HE染色和免疫组化检测脑缺血区病理改变及CD34和Brdu阳性细胞，原位末端标记法(TUNEL法)观察细胞凋亡。结果 模型动员组大鼠脑缺血／再灌注后24h，大量炎症细胞浸润。再灌注后48h，缺血区可见CD34和Brdu阳性细胞；72h后CD34阳性细胞消失，而Brdu阳性细胞持续存在；模型未动员组缺血区无CD34和很少Brdu阳性细胞表达。48h缺血区新生毛细血管密度明显高于对照组。再灌注后24h细胞凋亡显著，1周时达高峰；与模型非动员组比较，模型动员组48h后细胞凋亡改善明显。结论 自体骨髓干细胞经G-CSF动员后可向大鼠脑缺血区趋化并可分化为神经元前体细胞，显著促进脑缺血区血管再生，降低脑神经功能评分，降低细胞凋亡率。