RESUMEN
Objective To study the protective effect of paeonol against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats. Methods 36 neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, sham group, HIBD group, and HIBD plus Pae group. The expression of cleaved caspase -3 in the damaged cortex of rats was examined by the immunohistochemical staining and the number of necrotic neurons was counted after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results The number of the cleaved caspase - 3 positive cells in the damaged cortex of rats in the HIBD plus Pae group was significantly lower than that in the HIBD group( P < 0.05 ). The percentage of necrotic neurons was decreased in the HIBD plus Pae group in comparison with HIBD group( P <0.01). Conclusions Paeonol may take protective effect against hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.