ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Tang active fraction (HIJDTAF) on calcium overloading in neurons.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Cerebral ischemia was imitated by hypoxia/hypoglycemia damage on fetal rat neurons. Double wavelength fluorospectrophotometry was used to assay the content of calcium in neurons in order to evaluate the effect of HLJDTAF on calcium overloading. Neurons were treated with glutamic acid, potassium chloride (KCl), A23187, caffeine(CAF) and methacholine (Mch) to analysis the related mechanism of HLJDTAF on calcium overloading in neurons.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>HLJDTAF 0.3, 0.15 g x k(-1) could remarkably inhibit the calcium overloading in neurons caused by hypoxia/hypoglycemia, glutamic acid, KCl and A23187. HLJDTAF 0.3 g x kg(-1) could inhibit the increasing of calcium caused by CAF and Mch in the presence of and in the absence of extra-calcium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HLJDTAF could remarkably inhibit the calcium overloading in neurons after cerebral ischemia injury, it probably plays the function via several pathways.</p>