The protective effects of gastrodin on the brain injury and the integrity of myelin in striatum after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of gastrodin on neural function and the expression of myelin basic protein(MBP) and neurofilament high molecular weight(NFH) in the striatum during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice. Methods 36 Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham group, MCAO group and gastrodin (GAS) group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was established by artery embolization.The mice in sham group were received fake surgery and saline, and the mice in MCAO and GAS group were exposed to MCAO, and received saline and GAS (100 mg/(kg·d)) injection, respectively, immediately after the operation for 7 days. On the 8th day of operation, the neurological severity scores of the mice were observed and the volume ratio of the cerebral infarction was estimated by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the MBP and NF-H in the striatum. Results (1) The mice in MCAO group showed significant neurologic deficient in comparison with sham group, and the neurological severity scores of gastrodin group(3.13±0.64) were significantly higher than that(1.38±0.52) of MCAO group (P<0.05). (2) Results of TTC staining showed that the infarction volume was obviously larger in the injured cerebral tissue in MCAO group in comparison with sham group, and the volume ratio of the cerebral infarction significantly decreased after the intervention with GAS (P<0.05). (3) The integral optical density of MBP(272 968.14±1215.23) and NF-H(12 142.73±47.16) in MCAO group decreased as compared to that((43 855.23±2434.16), (275 321.00±926.15)) in sham group and GAS group((321 531.2±2376.14), (106 135.73±598.15))(P<0.05). Conclusion GAS can improve neural function of mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion, and it may play an important role in protecting myelin and nerve fibers of striatum. Key words: Gastrodin; Brain ischemic and reperfusion; Myelin basic protein; Neurofilament high molecular weight