Effects of Quercetin on nerve regeneration in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the protective effects of Quercetin on hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Methods Forty-eight 7-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, HIBD group and Que treatment group, 16 rats each. HIBD group and Que treatment group were treated by ligation of right common carotid artery to make anoxia and build HIBD model; sham-operation group had the separation of the right common carotid artery only. Que treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with quercetin (40 mg/kg) once a day for 7 days immediately after modeling while sham-operation group and HIBD group received equivalent normal saline at the same time. The rats in each group were scored of neurological function at 1 h after the last administration, and the ability of spatial learning-memory was tested by Morris water maze at the age of 28 days. After performing the test above, all rats were decapitated and the brains were taken. Pathological changes of hippocampus were observed by HE staining; the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth associated protein (GAP-43) in hippocampus CA1 area were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results There were significant differences in neurological deficit score and learning-memory ability among the three groups (P<0.01), and neurological deficit score was the highest and the learning-memory ability was the lowest in HIBD group. Pathological examination showed that the structure of hippocampal neurons was intact in sham-operation group. It was loose and disorder, and even loss of neurons in HIBD group. Compared with the HIBD group, the loose in the structure of hippocampal was lighter, and the number of neurons was increased in the Que treatment group. There was statistical difference in the positive expression of BDNF and GAP-43 in the hippocampal CA1 area among the three groups (P<0.01), with those in HIBD group being lower than in Que treatment group and sham-operation group and those in treatment group being lower than in sham-operation group (P<0.01). Conclusions Quercetin can enhance the expression of BDNF and GAP-43 in hippocampal CA1 region, promote nerve regeneration, improve the long-term learning-memory ability of HIBD neonatal rats, and protect the brain.