RESUMEN
Objective: To observe the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 pretreatment on the expression of survivin protein and apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury (SCII) in rats so as to explore the possible mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 on motor function recovery after SCII in rats. Methods: We selected 120 adult healthy SD rats to construct the model of SCII and randomly divided them into four groups: sham operation group, ischemia group, ischemia-reperfusion group, and drug group. Basso Beattie and Bresnahan score (BBB score) was used to evaluate the motor function of the hind limbs of the rats. The expressions of survivin protein and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was observed by immunohistochemistry. The expression and activity of survivin protein and Caspase-9 in each group were observed and analyzed by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results: The intervention of ginsenoside Rg1 could increase the score of the motor function of the rat hind limbs. It could decrease the number of AIF positive cells, but increase the number of survivin protein positive cells. Ginsenoside Rg1 could decrease the expressions of survivin and Caspase-9, and decrease the apoptosis of nerve cells in SCII. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 could inhibit the expression of Caspase-9 by promoting the expression of survivin protein and decrease the apoptosis of rat SCII induced by the level of cytoplasmic AIF.