AIM:To observe the neuroprotective effects of total saponins of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim(TST)on rats with vascular dementia(VD)and explore the drug's impact on astrocytes and the Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)pathway as well as its mechanisms of action.METHODS:A rat model of vascular dementia was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.Subsequently,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:donepezil hydrochloride group,TST group,model group,and sham group,with 18 rats in each group.After 5 weeks of gavage,samples were collected.Cognitive function was evaluated by the water maze test.Histopathological changes in brain tissue were examined with HE and Nissl staining.The ultrastructure of astrocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.The localization and expression of the neuronal nuclear antigen(NeuN),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),Shh,and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(Gli1)were identified using immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence was also employed to exam-ine the expression of NeuN and GFAP.Finally,Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of NeuN,GFAP,Shh,Patched 1(Ptch1),Gli1,Bax,Bcl-2,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the hippocampus.RESULTS:Compared to the sham group,the model rats demonstrated prolonged escape latency,disorga-nized and loosened neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex,reduced Nissl bodies,and significant neuronal damage.Astrocytes displayed chromatin aggregation,swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae structures,and swollen endoplasmic reticulum regions.The expression of NeuN,Shh,and Gli1 positive cells significantly decreased,while GFAP positive cells significantly increased.Additionally,the protein levels of NeuN,Shh,Ptch1,Gli1,IL-10,and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus were reduced(P＜0.05),whereas those of GFAP,Bax,and TNF-α were elevated(P＜0.01).Com-pared to the model group,the donepezil hydrochloride and TST groups effectively improved the aforementioned indicators.CONCLUSION:Total saponins of trillium tschonoskii maxim can effectively alleviate pathological damage to neurons in VD rats,thereby improving learning and memory abilities.The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibiting the overacti-vation of astrocytes,activate the Shh/Ptch1/Gli1 signaling pathway,suppress neuroinflammation,and reduce neuronal apoptosis.

AIM:To observe the neuroprotective effects of total saponins of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim(TST)on rats with vascular dementia(VD)and explore the drug's impact on astrocytes and the Sonic Hedgehog(Shh)pathway as well as its mechanisms of action.METHODS:A rat model of vascular dementia was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.Subsequently,the rats were randomly divided into four groups:donepezil hydrochloride group,TST group,model group,and sham group,with 18 rats in each group.After 5 weeks of gavage,samples were collected.Cognitive function was evaluated by the water maze test.Histopathological changes in brain tissue were examined with HE and Nissl staining.The ultrastructure of astrocytes was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.The localization and expression of the neuronal nuclear antigen(NeuN),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),Shh,and glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(Gli1)were identified using immunohistochemistry.Immunofluorescence was also employed to exam-ine the expression of NeuN and GFAP.Finally,Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein levels of NeuN,GFAP,Shh,Patched 1(Ptch1),Gli1,Bax,Bcl-2,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the hippocampus.RESULTS:Compared to the sham group,the model rats demonstrated prolonged escape latency,disorga-nized and loosened neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex,reduced Nissl bodies,and significant neuronal damage.Astrocytes displayed chromatin aggregation,swollen mitochondria with disrupted cristae structures,and swollen endoplasmic reticulum regions.The expression of NeuN,Shh,and Gli1 positive cells significantly decreased,while GFAP positive cells significantly increased.Additionally,the protein levels of NeuN,Shh,Ptch1,Gli1,IL-10,and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus were reduced(P＜0.05),whereas those of GFAP,Bax,and TNF-α were elevated(P＜0.01).Com-pared to the model group,the donepezil hydrochloride and TST groups effectively improved the aforementioned indicators.CONCLUSION:Total saponins of trillium tschonoskii maxim can effectively alleviate pathological damage to neurons in VD rats,thereby improving learning and memory abilities.The underlying mechanisms may involve inhibiting the overacti-vation of astrocytes,activate the Shh/Ptch1/Gli1 signaling pathway,suppress neuroinflammation,and reduce neuronal apoptosis.

AIM:Observation of neuroprotective effects of Toddalia asiatica(TA)on cerebral ischemia-reper-fusion injury(CIRI)in rats by investigating the effects and mechanisms of drugs on the polarization of microglia M1/M2 subtype and the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)path-way.METHODS:The modified thread occlusion method was used to establish a rat model of CIRI,and the rats were ran-domly divided into the model group,Toddalia asiatica(1.08 g/kg)group,donepezil hydrochloride(0.45 mg/kg)group,and sham group,with 16 rats in each group.Based on the assessment of neurofunctional changes in each group of rats,HE and Nissl staining were used to observe the pathological changes in brain tissue.TUNEL staining was performed to de-tect neuronal apoptosis,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of M1 microglia marker ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(Iba1),M2 microglia marker arginase 1(Arg1),and TLR4 localization.Western blot was used to detect the expression of microglia polarization proteins and proteins related to TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in the hippocampus region.RESULTS:Compared with sham group,the model group rats had higher neurological function scores(P＜0.01),and neuronal arrangement in the hippocampus and cortex was loose and disordered,Nissl bodies de-creased,and neuronal apoptosis increased.The numbers of M1 microglia marker Iba1-,M2 microglia marker Arg1-,and TLR4-positive cells were significantly increased.In addition,the protein levels of TLR4,MyD88,p-NF-κB p65,NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB inhibitory factor(p-IκB),Iba1,interleukin-6(IL-6),and Arg1 in the hippocampus were elevated(P＜0.05),while IL-4 and IL-10 expression were decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with model group,the Toddalia asiatica group and Donepezil hydrochloride group showed increased protein expression of Arg1,IL-4 and IL-10(P＜0.05),while the other indicators were decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Toddalia asiatica possesses neuroprotective effects on CIRI rats,which may be attributed to its ability to regulate M1/M2 polarization and inhibit the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathway.