Effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor Flk1 in rats after focal cerebral ischemia / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, Fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk1) in rats after focal cerebral ischemia. MethodsRats were randomly divided into following groups including Sham group, model group, Nimodipine group, and BYHWD group. The model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats was repro-duced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rats were ig administered and killed after operated, then the expression of VEGF and Flk1 and protein level of VEGF in brain tissue of every groups were measured by immunohistochemisty and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the nervous function deficit scores were evaluated. ResultsThere were a few VEGF and Flk1 positive cells in normal brain tissue of rats. After focal cerebral ischemia the VEGF and Flk1 positive cells were increased. Compared to model group, Nimodipine and BYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior performance, increased the numbers of VEGF and Flk1 positive cells, and enhanced the VEGF protein level (P