RESUMO
ObjectiveTo reveal the effects of Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） on the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 transgenic mice via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathway. MethodForty 5-month-old β-amyloid precursor protein （APP）/presenilin 1（PS1） mice were randomized into the model， donepezil （0.001 g·kg-1·d-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.5， 3， 6 g·kg-1·d-1， respectively） HLJDT groups， and 8 C57BL/6 mice were taken as the normal group. After 45 days of continuous administration， Morris water maze test was conducted， and the organ indexes were calculated. The morphological structure of cerebral vascular endothelial cells in mice was observed under a transmission electron microscope. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of APP， HIF-1α， VEGF，VEGFA， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampus. The mRNA levels of APP， HIF-1α， and VEGF were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency （P<0.05）， reduced distance and time around the target platform （P<0.05）， decrease brain and spleen indexes （P<0.05）， vascular endothelial cells with karyopyknosis and not abundant cytoplasm， up-regulated protein levels of APP， HIF-1α， VEGF， and VEGFA （P<0.05）， down-regulated protein level of BDNF （P<0.05）， and up-regulated mRNA levels of APP， HIF-1α， and VEGF （P<0.05） in the hippocampus. Compared with the model group， high-dose HLJDT shortened the escape latency （P<0.05）， increased the distance and time around the target platform （P<0.05）， raised the brain and spleen indexes （P<0.05）， repaired the organelles of vascular endothelial cells， down-regulated the protein levels of APP， HIF-1α， VEGF， and VEGFA （P<0.05）， up-regulated the protein level of BDNF （P<0.05）， and down-regulated the mRNA levels of APP， HIF-1α， and VEGF （P<0.05） in the hippocampus. ConclusionHLJDT can improve the learning and memory abilities of mice by reducing the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF， thus protecting the nerves.
RESUMO
ObjectiveTo explore effect of Huanglian Jiedutang （HLJDT） on autophagy-related protein expression in septic mice with liver injury induced by cecal ligation and puncture （CLP）. MethodSixty eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups， namely， the sham operation group， model group， and low- （1.44 g∙kg-1） and high-dose （2.88 g∙kg-1） HLJDT groups， with 15 in each group. The septic model was established by CLP after the last administration of HLJDT for three successive days. The survival rate of mice with 24 h was observed. The mice were sacrificed 12 h after operation for collecting the serum and liver tissue. The levels of serum interleukin-6 （IL-6）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum by biochemical method. The pathological changes in liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the apoptosis index （AI） of hepatocytes by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling （TUNEL）. The expression levels of protein high-mobility group box 1 protein （HMGB1）， Beclin1， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）-Ⅱ/Ⅰ in the liver tissue were assayed by Western blot. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed reduced survival rate at 12 and 24 h， elevated IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-1β levels， enhanced AST and ALT activities （P<0.05）， hepatocyte swelling， inflammatory cell infiltration， and apoptosis， and up-regulated HMGB1 （P<0.05）， Beclin1， and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， each medication group exhibited increased survival rate at 12 and 24 h， lowered IL-6 and TNF-α levels， weakened AST and ALT activities （P<0.05）， alleviated liver injury and apoptosis （P<0.05）， down-regulated HMGB1 expression （ P<0.05）， and up-regulated Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ （P<0.05）. ConclusionHLJDT alleviates the liver injury of septic mice possibly by inducing autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis.
