RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effect of phenolic alkaloids from Menispermum dauricum( PAMd)on the mRNA expression of the glutamate transporter EAAC1 in hippocampal neurons of rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia and to elucidate its neuroprotective mechanisms. Methods A total of 42 Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham group,model control group,and PAMd(10 mg·kg-1 ,i.g)group(n = 14 each).The focal cerebral ischemia model of rat was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion( MCAO). The 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride( TTC) staining was applied to measure the cerebral infarct size and the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)assay to detect EAAC1 mRNA expression in hippocampal neurons. Results After 24 h ischemia,the cerebral infarct volumes were (0.0±0.0)%,(35.3±2.9)% and(21.3±3.8)% in sham group,model control group and PAMd group,respectively(P<0.05). The relative expression levels of EAAC1 mRNA were 0.97±0.04,2.46±0.13,and 1.91±0.15 in the three groups,respectively (P<0. 05). Conclusion PAMd may protect against cerebral ischemia by up-regulating EAAC1 mRNA expression and alleviating the excitotoxicity of glutamic acid.