?-aescin affects nuclear factor-?B activities and tumor necrosis factor-? protein expression after traumatic brain injury in rats / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of ?-aescin on nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) activities and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) protein expression in the rat brain tissue following acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods A total of 62 SD rats were subjected to a lateral cortical impact injury caused by a free-falling object and divided randomly into four groups, ie, sham operation group (Group A), injury group (Group B), ?-aescin treatment group (Group C) and pyrrolidine dithocarbamate (PDTC) treatment group (Group D). Group C was administered with ?-aescin and Group D treated with PDTC immediately after injury. A series of brain samples were obtained directly 6, 24 hours and three days respectively after operation in four groups. The NF-?B activation of rat brain was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and the levels of TNF-? protein in rat brain measured by radio-immunoassay (RIA). In the meantime, the water content of rat brain was measured and pathomorphological observation carried out. Results Compared with Group A, NF-?B activities, the levels of TNF-? protein and the water content of the rat brain were significantly increased (P