Regulation of Baicalin for Serum Progesterone Level and Its Effects on Neural Functions after Cerebral Ischemia in Rats / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalin on serum progesterone and related hormones in female normal and cerebral ischemia rats; To explore whether baicalin plays a role in cerebral protection of neurological functions by regulating progesterone levels.Methods With vaginal smear method, the adult estrus female SD rats were selected and divided into normal group, baicalin normal group, and molding groups. The left side of the middle cerebral artery of rats in the molding groups was blocked to establish the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). After modeling, the rats were randomly divided into model group, baicalin treatment group, progesterone treatment group and progesterone inhibitor group. The baicalin normal group and baicalin treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of baicalin solution; the normal group and model group were given normal saline of the same quantity; progesterone treatment group was given intramuscular injection of progesterone; progesterone inhibitor group was given intraperitoneal injection of baicalin solution and intragastric administration of mifepristone solution.The neurological function deficit scores were evaluated and rat forelimb holding power was detected by Grip Strength Meter respectively at different time points. Serum was taken from the rats and the progesterone and related hormones levels in the serum of every group were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with normal group, neurological functions of rats in molding groups were damaged, and neural functional behavior scores of different time points were the most strongly increased (P0.05) and more significant improvement of the forelimb holding power (P0.05).Conclusion After applying mifepristone to block progesterone, baicalin neurologic protection is significantly inhibited. The results demonstrated that baicalin may play a role in cerebral protection via up-regulating serum progesterone level.