The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on intracephalic angiogenesis in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as sham operation (group A), ICH (group B), and HBO2 (group C). The behavioral change and angiogenesis in brain tissue of rats in each group were observed. The protein expression of PCNA, vWF, HIF1-α, and VEGF in rat brain was measured by immunohistochemistry, while the mRNA expression level of HIF1-α and VEGF was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. This study has investigated the effect of HBO2 on intracephalic angiogenesis in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). There were significant differences in behavior score between HBO2 and ICH groups at 14, 21, and 28 days. A large number of vessel-like structures and microvessels were observed in perihematomal brain tissues in HBO2 group. There were significant differences in HIF1-α and VEGF protein and HIF1-α mRNA level between HBO2 and ICH groups at 14, 21, and 28 days; at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, the differences in PCNA and vWF protein expression between the 2 groups were statistically significant. At 21 and 28 days, the expression levels of VEGF mRNA in the 2 groups differed significantly from each other. Our results indicate that HBO2 can significantly promote the expression of HIF1-α and VEGF at both mRNA and protein levels in rats with ICH, increase the protein expression of both PCNA and vWF, promote the formation of new blood vessels, and promote the recovery of behavioral ability, hence resulting in a rapid rehabilitation.

Tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside reduces the cognitive impairment and overexpression of amyloid precursor protein induced by aluminum exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive aluminum (Al) exposure impairs neurocognitive function in humans and animals. Epidemiologic studies have shown a potential linkage between chronic Al exposure and Alzheimer's disease. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside (TSG), the extract from herbal medicine Polygoni Multiflori, on cognitive impairment and the over-expression of hippocampal amyloid precursor protein (APP) induced by chronic exposure to Al in rats. METHODS: Rats were treated with 0.3% aluminum chloride (AlCl3) prepared in the drinking water for 90 d. AlCl3-treated animals were then randomly assigned to receive vehicle, TSG (4 g/kg), or Vitamin E (VE; 40 mg/kg) treatment for 5 months. VE served as a positive control. The effect of TSG was evaluated by passive avoidance task, and APP expression was evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: Following exposure to AlCl3 for 90 d, animals displayed a striking decrease (> 80%) in step-through latency in the passive avoidance task and a significant increase in the expression of APP in the hippocampus. Both TSG and VE significantly ameliorated the performance impairment in the passive avoidance task, and suppressed the over-expression of APP. Moreover, the effects of TSG, but not of VE, were in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: TSG may possess therapeutic effects against Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of polygonum multiflorum on the fluidity of the mitochondria membrane and activity of COX in the hippocampus of rats with Abeta 1-40-induced Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of polygonum multiflorum on the fluidity of mitochondria membrane and activity of cytochrome oxidase (COX) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats. METHODS: Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: an AD model group, a control group, and a treatment group (n=15). AD model was established by injecting beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) 1-40 into the hippocampus of rats. The learning and memory abilities of rats were tested with the Y-electrical maze. The coefficient of viscosity of the hippocampal mitochondria membrane was determined by a spectrofluorometer, and the activity of COX was measured by an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the learning and memory ability of the AD model group was significantly lower (P<0.01), while the coefficient of viscosity of the hippocampal mitochondria membrane of the AD model group rats was significantly higher (P<0.01), and COX activity was lower (P<0.01). Compared with the AD model group rats, the coefficient of viscosity of the hippocampal mitochondria membrane of the treatment group was significantly lower (P<0.05), and COX activity was significantly improved (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Polygonum multiflorum could improve the fluidity of mitochondria membrane and the activity of mitochondrial COX in the model of Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of qi-tonifying and stasis-eliminating therapy on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors Flt-1, Flk-1 in the brain of intracerebral hemorrhagic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and mechanism of qi-tonifying and stasis-eliminating (QTSE) therapy on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in the brains of intracerebral hemorrhagic (model) rats. METHODS: One hundred and eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group (n=5), the sham-operative (SO) group (n=35), the model group (n=35), the QTSE group (n=35), the QT group (n=35) and the SE group (n=35). All the rats except those in the normal group and SO group were established into an intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) model by intracerebral injection of collagenase type VII and the latter three were orally administered with Buyang Huanwu Decoction (a classical recipe for QTSE) or with some of its components for qi-tonification and for stasis-elimination, respectively. To the other three groups, normal saline solutions were given instead. Behavioral tests were carried out in the animals randomly chosen from each group on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after modeling. The expressions of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and the number of vascular segments with positive expression in the injured brain area of the rats was calculated. RESULTS: From day 7 onwards, the asymmetric forelimb use rate in the QTSE group recovered more significantly than that in the other model groups. In the model group, the expressions of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 appeared on day 1 and reached a peak on day 21, then weakened gradually. In the QTSE group, as compared with the other model groups, a higher level of VEGF expression was shown from day 7 (P<0.01) and a higher level of Flt-1 expression was shown from the 7th day to the 21st day (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: QTSE therapy can up-regulate the expressions of VEGF and its receptors (Flk-1 and Flt-1) and improve the recovery of kinetic function in the ICH rats, which may be correlated with its action in modulating vascular regeneration to promote the reconstruction of microvascular networks in the damaged areas.