RESUMEN
Aim To probe the effect of borneol combined with astragalosides IV (AST I V) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion were administered by gavage, the symptom of nerve function defect was observed, the water content of brain tissues, the permeability of BBB, and the expression of zonula cccludens 1 (ZO-1), ZO-2, Occludin and Claudin-5 were detected. Results After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the neurological deficit symptom appeared, the neurological function score and brain water content increased, and BBB was destroyed. Each drug could relieve the above pathological changes to various degrees, and the effect of borneol + AST IV + PNS was the best, which was stronger than that of single drug and AST IV + PNS. The expressions of ZO-1, ZO-2, Occludin, Claudin-5 proteins decreased after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. All drugs inhibited the decrease of ZO-1, except AST I V, and increased Occludin expression; Borneol + AST IV + PNS also up-regulated ZO-2, and the increase in ZO-1, ZO-2, Occludin was greater than that of each drug alone and AST IV + PNS. Conclusions Borneol, AST IV and PNS can relieve the increase of BBB permeability, reduce brain edema and antagonize brain injury to various degrees after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which are enhanced by the combination of three drugs. The mechanism may be related to the synergistic inhibition of the down-regulation of ZO-1, ZO-2 and Occludin and the protection of BBB after cerebral ischemia.