RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) has extensive pharmacological basis for the treatment of cerebral ischemic injury, and animal experiments for treatment of brain injury by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation are ongoing. However, little is reported about the combined use of PNS and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of PNS combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on traumatic brain injury in rats. METHODS:Traumatic brain injury models were made in 60 Sprague-Dawley rats by hydraulic shock method. Then, model rats were randomized into model group, cel transplantation group receiving bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation and combined treatment group undergoing PNS combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation. Nerve function recovery of the rats and protein expression of nerve growth factor in the brain tissue were evaluated and detected by Bederson scoring and western blot methods, respectively. Morphological changes of the brain tissue and apoptosis in cortical neurons were observed and detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Highest Bederson score was found in the model group, fol owed by the cel transplantation group and combined treatment group (Pthe cel transplantation group>the model group (P<0.05). Inflammatory infiltration and brain edema in the brain were relieved markedly in the combined treatment group compared with the other two groups, and the number of apoptotic neurons was significantly reduced as wel . Our findings suggest that PNS combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation can promote neurological recovery from traumatic brain injury by increasing the expression of nerve growth factor and reducing neuronal apoptosis.