Astragalus membranaceus promote expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 in rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) expression in a rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration and assess the neuroprotective actions of AM meanwhile.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rats model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration was established by using 3-acetylpyridine. The effect of AM on the expression of Calbindin D-28K in inferior olive (IO) neurons by immunohistochemistry, the serum IGF-1 level by Elisa, the IGF-1 mRNA level in the cerebellum by RT-PCR were detected respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>AM effectively improve the serum IGF-1 level, Cerebellar IGF-1 mRNA level and the survival of the 10 neurons in a rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration, even at a lower dose (9 g x kg(-1)), and the effect was in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AM could effectively upregulate the IGF-1 expression in the rat model of olivo-cerebellar degeneration, and have neuroprotective effect on IO neurons.</p>