Effects of Shennao Fuyuan Decoction combined with implantation of hUC-MSCs on expression of neurotrophic factors in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of Shennao Fuyuan Decoction (SFD) combined with implantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). Methods: Rats were randomly divided into Sham operation group, model group[cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model of rats prepared by middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO], SFD group (11.6 g/kg), hUC-MSCs group, combination group (SFD + hUC-MSCs), and these groups were separately divided into other three groups by execution time (days 4,8, and 15). The neurological function of rats was evaluated by neurological severity scores (NSS), the pathological changes of hippocampus were observed by HE staining, and the expression of BDNF and bFGF was detected by immunohistochemical and Werstern blotting method. Results: After cerebral ischemia, the neural necrocytosis of hippocampus in SFD group, hUC-MSCs group, and combination group was alleviated compared with model group; Compared with model group, the NSS was much lower and the expression of BDNF and bFGF was higher in SFD group (days 8 and 15), hUC-MSCs group, and combination group (days 4,8, and 15) (P<0.01 and 0.05); Compared with SFD group and hUC-MSCs group, the NSS was lower and the expression of BDNF and bFGF was higher in combination group (days 8 and 15) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combination of SFD and hUC-MSCs implantation could significantly improve the restoration of nuerological defects after cerebral ischemia of rats, and this neuroprotective effect is probably due to the promotion of BDNF and bFGF expression.