This study was aimed to explore the function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in the induction of brain ischemic tolerance, and observe the function of Shu-Xue Tong-Mai (SXTM) capsule pretreatment. Ischemic preconditioning was performed for 3 min on rats to induce cerebral ischemic tolerance. Rat model of cere-bral ischemia reperfusion (the ischemia pretreatment group, I/R group) was established 24 h later. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of JNK and phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (P-JNK), comparing to the expression with the sham operation group, I/R group and SXTM capsule group. Tunel method was applied to de-tect the apoptosis of neurons. Relationship between expression of JNK, P-JNK and apoptosis of neurons was also studied. The results showed that compared with the model group, expressions of P-JNK in ischemia preconditioning group and SXTM group were declined significantly (P < 0.05); and the apoptosis of neurons quantity was also de-clined (P< 0.05). It was concluded that ischemia preconditioning can decrease the apoptosis of neurons in cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and improve neurologic function. Its mechanism related to the inhibition of JNK signaling path-way. SXTM capsule pretreatment can protect the cerebral by inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway.

This study was aimed to evaluate effects of different production techniques of Shuxue Tongmai (SXTM) capsules for blood coagulation function and thrombosis formation among mice. The observation was made on the clot-ting time, bleeding time and instauration rate of collagen-adrenaline model of mice. The results showed that com-pared with SXTM II and Ⅲ production technique, the SXTM I production technique of the same dosage group can prolong the clotting time of mice significantly (P < 0.05), and increase the instauration rate of collagen-adrenaline model of mice significantly (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference on the bleeding time of mice between the SXTM I production technique of same dosage group and the saline group. It was concluded that the SXTM had an-ticoagulative and antithrombotic effects. And the SXTM I production technique receives better effects.

Objective To explore the neuroprotection of Shuxuetongmai capsule pretreatment, and the effect on the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods Ninety-six male SD rats were divided randomly into sham-operated group,ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R),ischemia preconditioning group (IP),and Shuxuetongmai group(n=24). Each group was further randomly divided into 4 subgroups by 3 h, 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after reperfusion, 6 rats in each subgroup. Sham-operated group was only performed artery separation . The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was set up in I/R rats by Longa method. The IP rats were performed for three minutes on the bilateral carotid artery ligation, and formed MCAO model 24 hours later. The rats in the Shuxuetongmai group were pretreated with Shuxuetongmai capsules for 14 days on gavage before the establishment of MCAO model. The neurological deficits were graded in rats by Zea Longa method. Western Blot was used to determine the protein expression of p38MAPK and P-p38MAPK. Tunel method was applied to detect the apoptosis of neurons and the relationship between expression of p38MAPK, P-p38MAPK and apoptosis of neuron. Results No neurological dysfunction appeared in the sham-operated group at each time points, but not for the other groups, which reached the peak at 24 h. Compared with the I/R group, IP group and Shuxuetongmai group presented the mild neurologic function deficiency at different time points in rats (P<0. 05), and no significant differences occurred between ischemia preconditioning group and Shuxuetongmai group (P>0.05). The obvious variation of the value of P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK wasn't detected in sham-operated group at different time points, while obviously presented in I/R group, and the ratios of P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK were increased gradually followed with reperfusion, approaching to the highest level at 24 h. Compared with the I/R group, the P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK declined from 3 h and to the lowest level at 24 h of reperfusion, in both IP and Shuxuetongmai groups(P<0. 05), and with similar phosphorylation. At different time points,very few neurons apoptosis were detected in sham-operated groups, but which increased gradually after reperfusion in other groups, and reached to the peak at 24 h. The neurons apoptosis in both IP group and Shuxuetongmai group were less than that in IR group ( P<0. 05 ) at different time points, and it showed no significant differences on neurons apoptosis between ischemia/preconditioning group and Shuxuetongmai group in rats (P>0. 05). Conclusion Shuxuetongmai capsule pretreatment can induce brain ischemic tolerance, attenuate the apoptosis of neurons in cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and improve neurologic function. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation.