Neuroprotective effects of Astragulus membranaceus on hypoxia-ischemia brain damage in neonatal rat hippocampus.
- Author:
Rui-zhe JIA
1
;
Li JIANG
;
Li-xing QIAO
;
Ping-sheng CHEN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Apoptosis; drug effects; Astragalus membranaceus; chemistry; Caspase 3; Caspases; biosynthesis; genetics; Cell Death; drug effects; Discrimination Learning; drug effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; isolation & purification; pharmacology; Female; Hippocampus; enzymology; pathology; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; enzymology; pathology; Male; Neurons; pathology; Neuroprotective Agents; isolation & purification; pharmacology; RNA, Messenger; biosynthesis; genetics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From: China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2003;28(12):1174-1177
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study neuroprotective effects of astragulus membraneaceus on a neonatal rat hippocampus of hypoxia-ischemia brain damage (HIBD).
METHODThe neonatal hypoxia-ischemia model was established with 7-day-old rat pups. Brain injury was examined by neuron death rate in the hippocampal CA1 area. Caspase-3 (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase) mRNA expression in ipsilateral hippocampal was measured by half-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR). 90-day-old rats were used in tri-equal-arm maze to observe discrimination learning ability. Sham, model and astragulus-membraneaceus treated groups were set up.
RESULTIn model group, caspase-3 mRNA showed an increase at 6h, with maximum arrivimg at 24 h - 48 h after HI. In astragulus-membraneaceus treated group, neurons death rate and caspase-3 mRNA were significantly reduced by astragulus membraneaceus, and discrimination learning ability of developed rats were improved obviously.
CONCLUSIONAstragulus membraneaceus has a strong protective effect on neuronal damage in the immature rat hippocampus, which is ralated reducing caspase-3 expression.
