Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) inhibits irradiation-induced brain injury

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of SFI in radiation-induced mice brain injury after 20 Gy cranial radiation. Methods The mice were divided into three groups: (1) control group, (2) RT-only group: the whole brain was irradiated with a dose of 20 Gy, (3) RT and SFI group: SFI at 20 ml/kg/d from 4 weeks after 20 Gy cranial radiation theraty(CRT). Results Morris water maze test showed that the latency of the irradiated group was longer than control group and SFI improved the cognitive function of mice(t=6.34, 6.70, P<0.05). The expression of TNF-α reached to the highest level at 3 h after irradiation, and then it decreased but got the second higher level again at 4 weeks after irradiation. The expression of IL-1β reached to the highest level at 72 h after irradiation and decreased until 4 weeks after irradiation. SFI decreased both expressions of TNF-α(t=11.34, 9.70, 6.07, P<0.05)and IL-1β(t=12.27, 5.70, 7.52, P<0.05). Immune florescence staining showed that SFI reduced the number of activated microglia(t=12.35, 8.64, 7.82, P<0.05)and inhibited the translocation of p65 of microglia after irradiation. Conclusions Findings suggest that SFI may decrease microglial activation and suppress the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β by inhibiting the translocation of NF-κB p65 and then attenuate irradiation-induced brain injury. Key words: Shengqi Fuzheng injection; Irradiation induced acute brain injury; Inflammatory factors; Microglia activation; NF-κB