ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Huangqi Chifengtang on middle cerebral artery embolism（MCAO） rat model. MethodThe 90 SPF male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， high， medium and low dose groups of Huangqi Chifengtang （8.10，4.05，2.025 g·kg-1） and positive drug group （Naoxintong 0.32 g·kg-1）. MCAO rat model was established and intervened with Huangqi Chifengtang， and the neurological scores of each group were scored. The area of cerebral infarction was calculated by 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Serum interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-1β（IL-1β） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA），The contents of matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9）， vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF） and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 （VEGFR2）， the pathological changes of brain tissue in each group were observed by hematoxylin eosin （HE） staining. Western blot was used to detect zonule atresia protein-1（ZO-1）， tight junction protein-5（Claudin-5） and P-glycoprotein （P-gp） and multidrug resistance protein 1（MRP1）. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the neurological function score and cerebral infarction rate of the model group were significantly increased（P<0.01）， and the levels of IL-6， IL-1β and MMP-9 in serum were significantly increased（P<0.01）， the levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 protein expression decreased significantly（P<0.01）， and the levels of P-gp and MRP1 protein expression increased significantly（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the neurological function score of rats in each administration group decreased significantly at 14 days （P<0.05，P<0.01）， the pathological changes of brain tissue effectively improved， the rate of cerebral infarction significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and the expression level of IL-6， IL-1β and MMP-9 in serum decreased significantly （P<0.05，P<0.01）， the content of VEGFR2 increased significantly （P<0.01）， and the content of VEGF increased significantly in high， medium dose and positive drug groups （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Although it decreased in low dose group， there was no significant difference. The levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 protein expression in brain tissue of high dose group and positive drug group increased significantly （P<0.05，P<0.01）， the level of MRP1 and P-gp protein expression decreased significantly （P<0.05）. ConclusionHuangqi Chifengtang can play a therapeutic role in rats with cerebral infarction by improving the pathological changes of brain tissue， reducing inflammatory reaction， promote angiogenesis and regulating the function of blood-brain barrier（BBB）.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential expression of junctional proteins in the normal and preeclamptic human placenta and the effect of ginsenoside Rk1 in junctional proteins. METHODS: Placental tissues from 10 women with severe preeclampsia and 5 normal women were collected at the time of their cesarean section. Five of 10 preeclamptic women were complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting was employed to localize junctional proteins (zo-1, occludin and plakoglobin) positive cells. The placental explant culture was performed to investigate if Rk1 can attenuate the expression of junctional proteins (zo-1, occluding and plakoglobin) induced by deferoxamine-induced hypoxia. Rk1 was treated at the day 3 and Western blot analysis was performed for protein quantification. RESULTS: There was no different expression of zo-1 and plakoglobin among all the study groups. Occludin showed negative at the endothelial cells of the terminal villi in both normal and preeclampsia groups. At the endothelial cells of the stem villi, occludin was detected in both normal and severe preeclamptic placenta with normal fetal growth. However, severe preeclampsia with IUGR were decreased expression of occludin at the endothelial cells of the stem villi. When we administered Rk1 to the placenta treated with DFO, expression of occludin was not different. CONCLUSION: The placental expression of zo-1 and plakoglobin were not different among the study groups, while that of occludin was significantly decreased at the endothelium of stem villi in severe preeclampsia with IUGR. Rk-1 showed no effect on the placental junctional proteins. These results suggest that occludin may play a role in pathophysiology of fetal growth restriction in utero.