Buyanghuanwu decoction promotes angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury：mechanisms of brain tissue repair

Buyanghuanwu decoction has been shown to protect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In this study,rats were intragastrically given Buyanghuanwu decoction,15 m L/kg,for 3 days.A rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion.In rats administered Buyanghuanwu decoction,infarct volume was reduced,serum vascular endothelial growth factor and integrin αvβ3 levels were increased,and brain tissue vascular endothelial growth factor and CD34 expression levels were increased compared with untreated animals.These effects of Buyanghuanwu decoction were partially suppressed by an angiogenesis inhibitor(administered through the lateral ventricle for 7 consecutive days).These data suggest that Buyanghuanwu decoction promotes angiogenesis,improves cerebral circulation,and enhances brain tissue repair after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

ERK通路参与蛇毒型神经生长因子诱导的中枢神经保护作用

目的观察经侧脑室给予蛇毒型神经生长因子（vNGF）对脑缺血再灌注损伤后细胞外信号调节激酶（extracellular signal—regulated kinase,ERK）表达的影响,探讨外源性vNGF通过影响ERK的表达减轻神经元损伤的可能机理。方法取健康清洁级雄性Wistar大鼠,按随机分组原则分为2d组（n=30）、7d组（n=30）、14d组（n=30）。每个时间点再分为五个亚组vNGF25U、vNGF50U、vNGF100U、生理盐水对照组、以及假手术组,每个亚组6只大鼠。生理盐水对照组和vNGF各亚组大鼠采用大脑中动脉线栓法建立局灶性脑缺血-再灌注损伤模型,术后各时间点vNGF亚组采用改良的侧脑室置管术法给予相应剂量蛇毒型神经生长因子,生理盐水对照组给予等渗盐水。采用免疫组织化学法测定术后第2d、第7d以及第14d缺血皮质周围和海马CA3／DG区ERK阳性细胞数。结果（1）与对照组相比,经侧脑室给予蛇毒型神经生长因子各组大鼠神经功能明显改善,显示了外源性补充蛇毒型神经生长因子的明显正性干预作用。（2）ERK免疫组织化学结果显示：经侧脑室给予vNGF各亚组ERK阳性细胞在缺血皮质周围和海马CA3／DG区第2d表达为高峰,第7d明显下降,第14d恢复基线水平。与相应时间点对照组相比,呈明显下降趋势。结论局灶性脑缺血再灌注后磷酸化ERK表达增加,NGF可能通过抑制ERK途径而发挥神经保护作用。     

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.     

Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids combined with mobilization of bone marrow stem cells to protect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Previous studies have shown that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a neuroprotective effect, but it remains unclear whether Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids have a synergistic effect with the recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mobilized bone marrow stem cell transplantation on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rat ischemia models were administered 0.3, 0.15 and 0.075 g/kg Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids from 3 days before modeling to 2 days after injury. Results showed that Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids could reduce pathological injury in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The number of Nissl bodies increased, Bax protein expression decreased, Bcl-2 protein expression increased and the number of CD34-positive cells increased. Therefore, Radix Ilicis Pubescentis total flavonoids can improve the bone marrow stem cell mobilization effect, enhance the anti-apoptotic ability of nerve cells, and have a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.     

Cannabinoid CB(2) receptor activation decreases cerebral infarction in a mouse focal ischemia/reperfusion model.

Cannabinoid CB(2) Receptor (CB(2)) activation has been shown to have immunomodulatory properties without psychotropic effects. The hypothesis of this study is that selective CB(2) agonist treatment can attenuate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Selective CB(2) agonists (O-3853, O-1966) were administered intravenously 1 h before transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or 10 mins after reperfusion in male mice. Leukocyte/endothelial interactions were evaluated before MCAO, 1 h after MCAO, and 24 h after MCAO via a closed cranial window. Cerebral infarct volume and motor function were determined 24 h after MCAO. Administration of the selective CB(2) agonists significantly decreased cerebral infarction (30%) and improved motor function (P<0.05) after 1 h MCAO followed by 23 h reperfusion in mice. Transient ischemia in untreated animals was associated with a significant increase in leukocyte rolling and adhesion on both venules and arterioles (P<0.05), whereas the enhanced rolling and adhesion were attenuated by both selective CB(2) agonists administered either at 1 h before or after MCAO (P<0.05). CB(2) activation is associated with a reduction in white blood cell rolling and adhesion along cerebral vascular endothelial cells, a reduction in infarct size, and improved motor function after transient focal ischemia.     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 overexpression inhibits neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH_2)is an important factor in inhibiting oxidative stress and has been shown to protect against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.Therefore,we hypothesized that ALDH_2 could reduce spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in rats using the modified Zivin’s method of clamping the abdominal aorta.After successful model establishment,the agonist group was administered a daily consumption of 2.5%alcohol.At 7 days post-surgery,the Basso,Beattie,and Bresnahan score significantly increased in the agonist group compared with the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group.ALDH_2expression also significantly increased and the number of apoptotic cells significantly decreased in the agonist group than in the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury group.Correlation analysis revealed that ALDH_2 expression negatively correlated with the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells(r=-0.485,P0.01).In summary,increased ALDH_2 expression protected the rat spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting apoptosis.     

Neuroprotective effect of the traditional Chinese herbal formula Tongxinluo： a PET imaging study in rats

Tongxinluo has been widely used in China for the treatment of acute stroke and for neuroprotection. However, there are few positron emission tomography （PET） studies on the neuroprotective effect of Tongxinluo on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in small animals. In the present study, Tongxinluo superfine powder suspension or its vehicle was administered intragastrically to rats for 5 successive days before middle cerebral artery occlusion, ^18Ffluorodeoxyglucose （FDG） small animal PET imaging showed that at 1 and 2 weeks after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, glucose metabolism in the ischemic area was greater in rats that had received Tongxinluo than in those that had received the vehicle. Nissl staining showed that 2 weeks after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, there was less neuronal loss in the prefrontal cortex in Tongxinluo-treated rats than in controls. In addition, Tongxinluo-treated animals showed better neurologic function and lower cerebral infarct volume than rats that received the vehicle. These findings suggest that Tongxinluo exhibits neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and demonstrates that ^18F-FDG small animal PET imaging is a useful tool with which to study the molecular pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine.     

Cerebralcare Granule® attenuates blood-brain barrier disruption after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

Disruption of blood–brain barrier (BBB) and subsequent edema are major contributors to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, for which the current clinical therapy remains unsatisfied. Cerebralcare Granule® (CG) is a compound Chinese medicine widely used in China for treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. CG has been demonstrated efficacy in attenuating the cerebral microcirculatory disturbance and hippocampal neuron injury following global cerebral ischemia. However, the effects of CG on BBB disruption following cerebral ischemia have not been investigated. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effect of CG on the BBB disruption in a focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat model. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (250 to 300 g) were subjected to 1 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). CG (0.4 g/kg or 0.8 g/kg) was administrated orally 3 h after reperfusion for the first time and then once daily up to 6 days. The results showed that Evans blue extravasation, brain water content, albumin leakage, infarction volume and neurological deficits increased in MCAO model rats, and were attenuated significantly by CG treatment. T2-weighted MRI and electron microscopy further confirmed the brain edema reduction in CG-treated rats. Treatment with CG improved cerebral blood flow (CBF). Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy showed that the tight junction proteins claudin-5, JAM-1, occludin and zonula occluden-1 between endothelial cells were significantly degradated, but the protein expression of caveolin-1, the principal marker of caveolae in endothelial cells, increased after ischemia, all of which were alleviated by CG treatment. In conclusion, the post-treatment with CG significantly reduced BBB permeability and brain edema, which were correlated with preventing the degradation of the tight junction proteins and inhibiting the expression of caveolin-1 in the endothelial cells. These findings provide a novel approach to the treatment of ischemic stroke.     

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     

Early expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor increase the neuronal plasticity of activated endogenous neural stem cells after focal cerebral ischemia

Endogenous neural stem cells become "activated" after neuronal injury, but the activation sequence and fate of endogenous neural stem cells in focal cerebral ischemia model are little known. We evaluated the relationships between neural stem cells and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in a photothromobotic rat stroke model using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. We also evaluated the chronological changes of neural stem cells by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine(BrdU) incorporation. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression was initially increased from 1 hour after ischemic injury, followed by vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α immunoreactivity was detected in the ipsilateral cortical neurons of the infarct core and peri-infarct area. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was detected in bilateral cortex, but ipsilateral cortex staining intensity and numbers were greater than the contralateral cortex. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactive cells were easily found along the peri-infarct area 12 hours after focal cerebral ischemia. The expression of nestin increased throughout the microvasculature in the ischemic core and the peri-infarct area in all experimental rats after 24 hours of ischemic injury. Nestin immunoreactivity increased in the subventricular zone during 12 hours to 3 days, and prominently increased in the ipsilateral cortex between 3–7 days. Nestin-labeled cells showed dual differentiation with microvessels near the infarct core and reactive astrocytes in the peri-infarct area. BrdU-labeled cells were increased gradually from day 1 in the ipsilateral subventricular zone and cortex, and numerous BrdU-labeled cells were observed in the peri-infarct area and non-lesioned cortex at 3 days. BrdU-labeled cells rather than neurons, were mainly co-labeled with nestin and GFAP. Early expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor after ischemia made up the microenvironment to increase the neuronal plasticity of activated endogenous neural stem cells. Moreover, neural precursor cells after large-scale cortical injury could be recruited from the cortex nearby infarct core and subventricular zone.     

Electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and transplantation of umbilical cord bloodderived mesenchymal stem cells for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury简

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a novel means of treating cerebral ischemia/reper- fusion, and can promote angiogenesis and neurological functional recovery. Acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels also has positive effects as a treatment for cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion. Therefore, we hypothesized that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels plus mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may have better therapeutic effects on the promotion of angiogenesis and recovery of neurological function than either treatment alone. In the present study, human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, cultured, identified and intracranially transplanted into the striatum and subcortex of rats at 24 hours following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Subsequently, rats were electro-acupunctured at Conception and Governor vessels at 24 hours after transplantation. Modified neurological severity scores and immunohistochemistry findings revealed that the combined interventions of electro-acupuncture and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation clearly improved neurological impairment and up-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor expression around the isch- emic focus. The combined intervention provided a better outcome than mesenchymal stem cell transplantation alone. These findings demonstrate that electro-acupuncture at Conception and Governor vessels and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation have synergetic effects on promot- ing neurological function recovery and angiogenesis in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.     

Acupuncture for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury Does it reduce the inflammatory reaction?

BACKGROUND:Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in brain tissue can participate in inflammatory reactions after cerebral ischemia.Acupuncture treatment for acute cerebral ischemia produces abnormal protein expression.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of acupuncture on NF-κB, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING:Randomized...     

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.     

Neuroprotective effect of pretreatment with ganoderma lucidum in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat hippocampus

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional Chinese medicine,which has been shown to have both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects,and noticeably decreases both the infarct area and neuronal apoptosis of the ischemic cortex.This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of pretreatment with ganoderma lucidum(by intragastric administration)in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.Our results showed that pretreatment with ganoder-ma lucidum for 3 and 7 days reduced neuronal loss in the hippocampus,diminished the content of malondialdehyde in the hippocampus and serum,decreased the levels of tumor necrosis fac-tor-αand interleukin-8 in the hippocampus,and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the hippocampus and serum.These results suggest that pretreatment with ganoderma lucidum was protective against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through its anti-oxidative and an-ti-inflammatory actions.     

Aggravation of hemorrhagic transformation by early intraarterial infusion of low-dose vascular endothelial growth factor after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a unique growth factor associated with angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and neuroprotection. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of early intraarterial infusion of low-dose VEGF on ischemia/reperfusion injury after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of focal ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion. After the 2 h ischemia, the rats were infused with 0.3 microg/kg of VEGF (n = 15), or the vehicle as a control (n = 15), via the reperfused internal carotid artery. The brains were collected after a 1 h, 6 h, or 72 h reperfused period. Severity of ischemic cellular injury, serum extravasation, hemorrhagic transformation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 expressions were compared between the VEGF-treated and control groups. No significant difference in the extent of ischemic cellular injury and serum extravasation was observed between the two groups. However, vessel numbers with hemorrhagic transformation were significantly greater in the VEGF-treated group than in the control group after the 72 h reperfusion (9.4 +/- 1.6 versus 2.6 +/- 1.5; P = 0.028). The severity of hemorrhagic transformation was not correlated with the extent of ischemic cellular injury or serum extravasation. MMP-2 and -9 expressions were not enhanced in the VEGF-treated group compared with the control group. These results suggest that exogenous VEGF administered intravascularly at a very early point in reperfusion aggravates hemorrhagic transformation. The aggravated hemorrhagic transformation does not seem to depend on the enlargement of ischemic cellular injury, serum extravasation, or overexpressions of MMP-2 and -9.     

脑缺血再灌注大脑皮质微血管生成及胚胎肝激酶1表达与年龄的关系

目的：从Flk-1因子表达变化揭示老年脑缺血/再灌注血管再生机制。方法：SD雄性青年和老龄大鼠,随机分为青年假手术组、青年模型组、老龄假手术组、老龄模型组,模型组分为I 3h、I/R 1d、3d、6d、12d时间点。采用线栓法制备局灶性脑缺血/再灌注模型,运用免疫组化和原位杂交等技术测定脑微血管密度（MVD）、微血管场面积、Flk-1蛋白及mRNA表达。结果：老龄假手术组MVD较青年假手术增高（P<0.01）,老龄模型组I/R 1d、3d、6d、12d MVD、血管场面积较青年模型组降低（P<0.05,P<0.01）。青年模型组MVD于I 3h开始增加,I/R 6d达峰值,持续至I/R 12d;老龄模型组MVD自I 3h持续下降至I/R 12d。青年模型组I/R 1d血管场面积明显增加,I/R 1d～6d逐渐下降,至I/R 12d又明显增高;老龄模型组血管场面积于I/R 1d达峰值,后逐步下降。老龄假手术组Flk-1表达较青年假手术组增强（P<0.01）,老龄模型组I 3h Flk-1表达较青年模型组增强（P<0.01）,I/R 3d、6d、12d Flk-1表达较青年模型组减弱（P<0.01）。老龄模型组Flk-1表达逐步增强至I/R 1d达峰值,此后表达迅速减弱。青年模型组Flk-1表达峰值出现较老龄模型组延迟,I/R 3d表达最强,至I/R 12d表达仍能维持一个较高水平。老龄模型组I/R 3d、6d、12d Flk-1 mRNA表达水平较青年模型组降低（P<0.01）。青年和老龄模型组Flk-1 mRNA均随再灌注时间延长而呈现出表达逐步增强的趋势,均于I/R 1d达到峰值。老龄大鼠Flk-1 mRNA表达于I/R 1d后迅速减弱,而青年大鼠至I/R 12d仍可维持一个相对高的表达水平。结论：老年脑缺血/再灌注损伤后脑微血管生成能力明显减弱,其机制可能与促血管生长因子Flk-1的蛋白及其mRNA表达减弱有关。Flk-1表达在血管生成中具有重要作用,增龄因素可能是导致Flk-1因子表达减弱的主要原因之一。     

丁苯酞预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用

目的研究丁苯酞预处理对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的神经保护作用。方法健康成年SD雄性大鼠48只,随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注组、丁苯酞预处理组,每组各16只。各组均灌胃5d后,采用线栓法制作大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注(MCAO)模型,缺血2h、再灌注24h,进行神经功能缺损评分,TTC染色及图像分析观察脑梗死体积,免疫组化法检测脑组织caspase-3、bcl-2表达的变化。结果与缺血再灌注组相比,丁苯酞预处理组神经缺损程度改善,梗死灶体积减少,caspase-3阳性细胞数量减少,bcl-2表达上调。结论丁苯酞可减轻缺血性脑血管病的发作,具有一定的神经保护作用。     

Persimmon leaf flavonoid promotes brain ischemic tolerance

Persimmon leaf flavonoid has been shown to enhance brain ischemic tolerance in mice, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. The bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded using a micro clip ...