[Effect of baicalin and dexamethasone on cytokines in brain tissue of infectious brain edema].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of baicalin(BC) and dexamethasone(DXM) on interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-alpha) in brain tissues of infectious brain edema.


METHODS
The infectious brain edema model induced by pertussis bacilli(PB) was used. Brain water content(WC), content of Na+ and the levels of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha were determined, and the morphological changes were observed under the light microscope.


RESULTS
The results showed that the levels of WC, Na+, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in group PB were higher than those in group of normal saline(NS) (P < 0.01). And they were lower in groups BC and DXM than those in group PB(P < 0.05). In groups BC and DXM, there were no significant difference in the contents of water, Na+, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha(P > 0.05). The water contents were positive linar correlated with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha(P > 0.05). The water contents were positive linear correlated with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha contents(r = 0.9381, 0.8349, P < 0.01). The structure of brain tissues in group NS was normal. In group PB, there were severe edema in brain tissues. In groups BC and DXM, the edema of brain tissues was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the protective effect of BC and DXM against infectious brain edema were similar, the mechanism may be associated with the reduction of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta.
Yu
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410008.
Yang
Y J
YJ
Tao
Y G
YG
D000818:Animals; D001886:Bordetella pertussis; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000378:metabolism
D005419:Flavonoids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C038044:baicalin; D003907:Dexamethasone