Effect of total flavone of ginkgo biloba on apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia in rats

Liuyi DONG; Zhiwu CHEN; Li FAN; Ming FANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Total flavone of ginkgo biloba(TFG) can affect on free radical, but the effect on apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia is unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the inhibitory effect of TFG on apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia.

DESIGN:

Completely randomized controlled experimental study based on experimental animals.

SETTING:

Department of pharmacology in a university.MATERIALS Totally 24 SD rats in half genders with clean grade and body mass of(250 ± 50) g, were divided into 4 groups at random sham-operation group, model group, TFG 40 rmg/kg group and TFG 80 mg/kg group (Certificate No. 01).

METHODS:

This study was completed in the Department of Pharmacology,Anhui Medical University during October 2001 and January 2002. Incomplete cerebral ischemia was made by ligating bilateral common carotid arteries(CCA) in rats. The cerebral injury was evaluated by brain edema. The apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transforase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling(TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method. The DNA fragmentation analysis was measured with the diphenylamine reagent method.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Major factor Effect of TFG on ultrastructral alteration of apoptotic cerebral cortex cells; Secondary factor Effect of TFG on DNA fragmentation induced by cerebral ischemia.

RESULTS:

Ligating of bilateral CCA markedly induced apoptotic cell in cerebral cortex. TFG 80 mg/kg significantly inhibited brain edema( P ＜ 0.05 )and decreased the numbers of apoptotic cells in cortex( P ＜ 0.01 ) and improved ultrastructral alteration of apoptotic cells; TFG 40, 80 rmg/kg also inhibited the increase of DNA fragmentation induced by cerebral ischemia (P ＜0.05, P ＜0.01).

CONCLUSION:

TFG has inhibitory effect on ischemia-induced apoptosis of cerebral cortex and improve the ultrastructual changes of apoptosis. Moreover,TFG can relieve the occurrence of edema of ischemic brain tissue and inhibit the increase of DNA section induced by cerebral ischemia.