[Effect of Safflor yellow against neonatal hypoxia on expression of NOSs mRNA].

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the effect of Safflor yellow on the gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: 30 minutes after SY 7 g/kg weight intraperitoneally was administered on the neonatal rats. After asphyxia for 40 minutes,the neonatal rats were reoxygenated for 48 h, and the nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were up in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) 48 h group, while both of them were down significantly in SY group, but no change was observed on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). CONCLUSION: The protective of SY from brain damage induced by neonatal asphyxia might be associated with expression of NOSs mRNA.