Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of Shenxiong Drop Pill (SXDP) on cerebral infarction (CI) in rats, and the involvement of anti-inflammatory response in the process.Methods: Rats were sacrificed at three different time points, viz, 24, 48 and 72 h after establishment of CI model. Neurological deficit score (NDS) was determined using Bederson’s neurological behavioral scoring method, whereas triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to show brain injury. The integrated optical density (IOD) of Nissl bodies and caspase-3-positive nerve cells were measured with Nissl staining and SP kit, respectively. The mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) was determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: SXDP produced neuroprotective effect at high, medium, and low doses. The infarct volumes in the high-, medium- and low-dose SXDP, and cyclophosphamide groups were significantly reduced at each time point. Different doses of SXDP significantly reduced the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and the IOD of caspase-3.Conclusion: These results indicate that SXDP exerts neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury by negatively regulating ICAM-1/caspase-3 downstream of inflammatory and apoptosis pathways.
Highlights
Apoptosis is considered to be the major contributor to neuronal loss after cerebral ischemia, and it is related to the enlargement of infarct areas [5]
The rat brain was frozen at −20 oC for 15 min and sectioned into 2-mm slices which were placed in 2 % triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) solution at 37 oC for 20 min, and fixed with 4 % paraformaldehyde for 24 h
Shenxiong Drop Pill (SXDP) decreased the expression levels of caspase-3 mRNA and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA. These results show that SXDP exerted a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia partly through targeted downregulation of mRNA expressions of caspase-3 and ICAM-1
Summary
Shenxiong Drop Pill (SXDP) is comprised of Astragalus saponins, total salvianolic acid, and volatile oils from Ligusticum chuanxiong It has a positive effect on acute ischemic stroke, as indicated in previous studies [6,7]. The rat brain was frozen at −20 oC for 15 min and sectioned into 2-mm slices which were placed in 2 % TTC solution at 37 oC for 20 min, and fixed with 4 % paraformaldehyde for 24 h The principle of this test is that TTC chemically reacts with mitochondrial respiratory enzymes to produce a bright red color that contrasts clearly with the color of the infarct. The IOD of caspase-3 staining was measured in unit visual field in the normal, sham, model and cyclophosphamide groups, as well as in the different SXDP-dose groups. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant
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