益气温阳活血化痰方通过抑制内质网应激对HHPH大鼠脑的保护作用

目的:评价益气温阳活血化痰方通过抑制内质网过度应激反应减轻大鼠低氧高二氧化碳性肺动脉高压(HHPH)所致脑损伤的作用。方法:雄性SD大鼠50只,采用随机数字表法分为5组:对照组,低氧高CO_2组,益气温阳活血化痰方低、中、高剂量给药组。对照组置于常氧环境中饲养,其余4组置于低氧高CO_2氧仓中饲养,共饲养4周。益气温阳活血化痰方低、中、高剂量组大鼠每天分别按0.15 g/kg、0.3 g/kg和0.6 g/kg灌服益气温阳活血化痰方浸膏,低氧高CO_2组大鼠给予等体积生理盐水灌胃。连续给药4周后对大鼠进行手术,记录肺动脉平均压后进行心脏灌流,结束后开颅快速取脑组织检测脑组织含水量并开胸取肺组织。光镜下观察脑组织及肺动脉形态学变化,TUNEL法检测脑细胞凋亡指数,分光光度计法检测脑组织caspase-3酶活性,Western blot和RTPCR法检测c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)、caspase-12、C/EBP同源蛋白(CHOP)和葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)的蛋白及mRNA水平。结果:与对照组相比,其余组肺动脉平均压、脑含水量、细胞凋亡指数、caspase-3酶活性以及JNK、caspase-12、CHOP和GRP78的蛋白及mRNA均有升高,组织形态学结构亦有损伤性变化;与低氧高CO_2组比较,益气温阳活血化痰方低、中、高剂量组的肺动脉平均压、脑含水量、细胞凋亡指数、caspase-3酶活性以及JNK、caspase-12、CHOP和GRP78蛋白及mRNA均有降低,脑组织及肺组织结构损伤性的变化亦有明显减轻,并以中剂量组最为显著。结论:益气温阳活血化痰方可能通过抑制内质网过度应激反应减轻HHPH所致的脑损伤。

Protective effect of Yiqi-Wenyang-Huoxue-Huatan formula on HHPH rat brain by suppressing excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIM: To investigate whether Yiqi-Wenyang-Huoxue-Huatan formula (YWHHF) attenuats brain injury induced by hypoxia-hypercapnia pulmonary hypertension (HHPH) in the rats by inhibiting excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response. METHODS: Healthy SPF male SD rats (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, hypoxia-hypercapnia group, low-dose YWHHF group, middle-dose YWHHF group and high-dose YWHHF group. The rats in control group lived in normal environment, while the rats in other 4 groups were raised for 4 weeks in oxygen tank with low oxygen concentration and high CO₂ concentration. YWHHF was perfused in the rats of low-, middle-and high-dose groups at 0.15, 0.3 and 0.6 g/kg daily, respectively. The rats in hypoxia-hypercapnia group were given isometric distilled water. The surgery was performed on the rats after 4 weeks, and the brain and lung tissues were quickly collected to detect brain water content and observe the morphological changes after mean pulmonary artery pressure recording and heart perfusion. The caspase-3 activity and the apoptotic index of the brain cells were determined. The expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), caspase-12, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) at protein and mRNA levels in brain tissues was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with control group, mean pulmonary artery pressure, brain water content, brain apoptotic index, caspase-3 activity, and the protein and mRNA levels of JNK, caspase-12, CHOP and GRP78 in the rest 4 groups were increased, and the brain and lung tissues had obvious damage under light microscope. Compared with hypoxia-hypercapnia group, mean pulmonary artery pressure, brain water content, brain apoptotic index, caspase-3 activity, and the protein and mRNA expression of JNK, caspase-12, CHOP and GRP78 in low-, middle-and high-dose YWHHF groups were decreased, and the pathological damage of the brain and lung tissues was obviously reduced under light microscope. These changes in middle-dose YWHHF group were the most significant. CONCLUSION: YWHHF effectively relieves the brain injury induced by HHPH in rats, which may be associated with inhibiting excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response.