Effect of puerarin on apoptosis-related gene of nerve cell in hippocampus CA1 region of rats after cerebral resuscitation

Guangtian YANG; Jianzhong CAO; Shushan LIU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Being a traditional Chinese herb, huangqi (astragalus membranaceus) resists free radical, enhances immunity, promotes microcirculation and protects vascular endothelial cell and nervous system; of which, the protection of huangqi (astragalus membranaceus) on nervous vessel is related to its regulation on local cerebral cortical blood flow rate.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the effects of huangqi (astragalus membranaceus) on local cerebral cortical blood flow rate after traumatic injury.

DESIGN:

Randomized paired experiment.

SETTING:

Neurological Surgical Institute of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS The experiment was performed in Traumatic Experimental Room of Neurological Surgical Institute of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from February to May 2000, in which, 75 healthy male SD rats were employed and randomized into the control (5 rats), saline control (35 rats) and experimental group (35 rats). The latter two groups were subdivided into 7 time spots of 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after traumatic injury, 5 rats were involved in each spot.

METHODS:

In normal control, the model was not prepared and in the other two groups, the modified Feeney's method was used to establish craniocerebral traumatic model. In experimental group, right after injury, huangqi injection (5 g/kg) was applied abdominally and in saline control, physiological saline 0.5 mL was injected abdominally. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

It was to determine the blood flow rates in local cerebral cortex at corresponding time spots after traumatic injury. Fenestration was done in normal control for direct determination.

RESULTS:

By supplemented, 75 rats entered result analysis. Blood flow rates in local cerebral cortex the rate in saline control 1 hour after trauma was lower than the control [(6.90±0.68), (7.94±0.65), P < 0.05], it was de creased to the minimum in 24 hours and began increasing in 48 hours [(5.86±0.61), (6.15±0.60)]; the rate in experimental group at every time spot was higher than saline control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Huangqi (astragalus membranaceus) increases remark ably blood flow rate in local cerebral cortex, which is associated with its neurovascular protection.