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Objective To investigate the effect of Chaigan Jieyou Decoction on hippocampal neurons and the expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in rats of Parkinson’s disease with depression (PDD). Methods Twenty-four adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely normal group, model group, Chaigan Jieyou Decoction group and Fluoxetine group, 6 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the rats in the other groups were fed solitarily. After the establishment of PDD model, the model group, Chaigan Jieyou Decoction group and Fluoxetine group were given intragastric administration of distilled water 2.0 mL, Chaigan Jieyou Decoction 8 g·kg-1, Fluoxetine 1.8 mg·kg-1 for one day respectively, once a day. The treatment covered 21 continuous days. The hippocampal neuron damage and the expression of BDNF in hippocampal tissues were detected by Nissl’s staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results Compared with the normal group, model group had obvious morphological damage of the hippocampal neurons, while Chaigan Jieyou Decoction and fluoxetine could relieve the damage, showing certain protection of hippocampal neurons. Compared with the normal group, BDNF positive staining area, integral optical density (IOD), and mean optical density(MOD) of the hippocampus in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, BDNF positive staining area, integral optical density and mean optical density in Chaigan Jieyou Decoction group and fluoxetine group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Chaigan Jieyou Decoction has an effect on the relief of the damage of neurons and the increase of expression of BDNF in hippocampus of rats with PDD, which probably contributes to one of its therapeutic mechanisms.
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Objective To observe the influence of exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection on hippocampal cell apoptosis and c-Jun N-terminal kinase ( JNK) in ischemia-reperfusion injury rats, and to explore the possible protective mechanism for ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods One hundred and twenty SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (SH), model group (I/R), electroacupuncture (EA) group and JNK inhibitor SP600125 ( SP) group. The ischemia-reperfusion model was established by occlusion of middle cerebral artery with intraluminal thread. EA group was given EA on acupoints of Zusanli ( ST 36) , Sanyinjiao ( SP 6) , Chize ( LU 5) , Hegu ( LI 4) , once a day, based on the method of exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection. We observed the neurological behavioral changes by Longa neurological function standard, detected the activation of phosphorylated JNK ( p-JNK) by immunohistochemical method and examined the hippocampal apoptotic index by TUNEL method. Results The neurologic impairment scores of EA group and SP group were lower than I/R group (P<0.05) . Apoptotic index of I/R group was higher than SH group (P<0.01) and that of EA group and SP group was lower than I/R group (P <0.05) . The level of p-JNK in I/R group was higher than SH group ( P <0.01) and that of EA group and SP group was lower than I/R group ( P <0.05). Conclusion Exterior-interior meridian acupoint selection therapy has certain effect on alleviating neurologic impairment and reducing apoptosis in ischemia- reperfusion injury rats, and the mechanism might be associated with the inhibition of the activation of JNK signaling pathway.
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Objective To observe the effect of Professor Deng Tietao’s Brain-strengthening Recipe 1 on learning and memory abilities of rats with vascular dementia, and to explore its molecular biology mechanism. Methods The vascular dementia rat model was established by permanent occlusion of the bilateral arteria carotis communis. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely sham-operation group, model group, nimodipine (5.4 mg·kg-1·d-1) group, and high-and low-dose Chinese medicine groups (57.6 and 14.4 g·kg-1·d-1, respecitvely) . After medication for 30 days, the learning and memory abilities were evaluated by Morris water maze test. The histological changes of the rat hippocampal tissues were observed after HE staining, and the mRNA expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B ( NR2B) in rat hippocampus was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . Results The water maze test results showed that the escape latency of the rats in the sham-operation group was significantly decreased on the third day, and was significantly decreased in the high-dose Chinese medicine group on the fourth day ( P0.05). HE staining results for the model group were presented as the absence of neural cells in hippocampus CA1 region, karyorrhexis of nerve cells, indistinctness of nuclear membrane, disappearance of nucleolus, shrinkage of nerve cells, increase of cytoplasm acidophily, and reactive hyperplasia of astrocytes. And in the hippocampal CA1 region of high- and low-dose Chinese medicine groups, the injured neural cells were found, and the lesions were slighter than those of the model group. Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of NR2B was increased in nimodipine group and high-dose Chinese medicine group ( P0.05). Conclusion Brain-strengthening Recipe 1 has obvious effects on improving the learning and memory abilities of vascular dementia rats, and the therapeutic mechanism is associated with reduction of the degree of neuronal damage in hippocampus and with the upregulation of the mRNA expression of NR2B.
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Objective To observe the effect of chronic variable stress on the forced swimming test of rats,and investigate its preliminary mechanism.Methods First a mark was given to each Wistar rat by forced swimming test.12 Wistar rats which had similar scores were selected and divided into control group and model group averagely.The behavior changes of rats were induced in the forced swimming test by chronic stress and the plasma cortisol level was analyzed through radioimmunoassay(RIA) methods.The changes of hippocampus CA3 structure were observed with microscope.Results Compared with control group,chronic variable stress increased immobility time,reduced climbing time evidently and enhanced the weight of adrenal gland and the level of plasma cortisol(P
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Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and nerve growth factor(NGF) expression in the hippocampus of depression rats,and to explore its possible anti-depression mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomized into the normal group,model group,acupuncture group and western medicine group.Rat models of depression were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and by isolated raising.The western medicine group received gastric gavage of fluoxetine hydrochloride(in the dose of 2 mg?kg-1?d-1),and the acupuncture group received acupuncture on acupoints of Baihui(GV20),Xinshu(BL15) and Ganshu(BL17),once per day for 21 days.After treatment,the expression of BDNF and NGF in the hippocampus of rats was detected by immunohistochemical assay.Results The number of cells with BDNF and NGF positive expression in the hippocampus of model group was decreased(P