ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the protective and anti-apoptosis effects of Rannasangpei (RNSP) on brain ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established and the groups were divided as sham group, MCAO group, vehicle + MCAO group and RNSP + MCAO group. Neuronal deficient signs, brain infarct area, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of caspase-3 were evaluated by neuronal deficient score, TTC (2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride) staining and Western blot respectively. Results Compared with those parameters in sham group, the neuronal deficient signs, infarct area and caspase-3 expression increased evidently while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax decreased markedly in MCAO group. But in RNSP+MCAO group, the neuronal deficient signs, infarct area and cas?pase-3 expression decreased greatly while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax increased markedly compared with those parameters in MCAO group. Conclusion RNSP may have protective effects on brain ischemia and reperfusion, which is related to its an?ti-apoptosis role indicated by upregulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratios and downregulation of caspase-3.