Prophylactic effect of rhubarb on severe brain injury induced stress ulcer in rats / 中华神经医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the mechanism of stress ulcer induced by severe brain injury and prophylactic effect of rhubarb on this stress ulcer in rats. Methods Forty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into sham-operated group, model group, rhubarb treatment group and omeprazole treatment group (n=10). Rat models of craniocerebral injury in the later 3 groups were established according to modifiod Feeney's method; and then, rhubarb in a suspension manner was given by way of ig into the rhubarb treatment group and omeprazole was given orally to rats in the omeprazole treatment group. The neurological severity scale (NSS) was performed 2, 6 and 24 h after the brain injury. The gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by probe test with laser Joppler flowmetry; thickness of the slime layer was measured; pathological changes of mucous mermbrane were observed by HE staining and the ulcer index was calculated 24 h after the brain injury. Results As compared with the sham-operated group, the other 3 groups enjoyed significantly lower scores of NSS (P＜0.05). Thickness of the slime layer and GMBF in the rhubarb and omeprazole treatment groups were obviously increased,and ulcer index in them was obviously decreased as compared with those in the model group (P＜0.05);the levels of thickness of the slime layer and GMBF in the rhubarb treatment group were significantly higher than those in the omeprazole treatment group (P＜0.05). The scores of NSS, thickness of the slime layer and GMBF were negatively correlated to the ulcer index(r=-0.429, P=0.002; r=-0.542, P=0.013;r=-0.465, P=0.024). Positive correlation was noted between thickness of the slime layer and GMBF(r=0.680, P=0.001). Conclusion Prophylactic effect ofrhubarb on severe brain injury induced stress ulcer is noted in rats. But the rhubarb may neither reduce the mucus secretion nor improve the scores of behavioral evaluation in a short term.