[Neuroprotective effects of Astragulus membranaceus on hypoxia-ischemia brain damage in neonatal rat hippocampus].
OBJECTIVE
To study neuroprotective effects of astragulus membraneaceus on a neonatal rat hippocampus of hypoxia-ischemia brain damage (HIBD).


METHODS
The neonatal hypoxia-ischemia model was established with 7-day-old rat pups. Brain injury was examined by neuron death rate in the hippocampal CA1 area. Caspase-3 (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase) mRNA expression in ipsilateral hippocampal was measured by half-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR). 90-day-old rats were used in tri-equal-arm maze to observe discrimination learning ability. Sham, model and astragulus-membraneaceus treated groups were set up.


RESULTS
In model group, caspase-3 mRNA showed an increase at 6h, with maximum arrivimg at 24 h - 48 h after HI. In astragulus-membraneaceus treated group, neurons death rate and caspase-3 mRNA were significantly reduced by astragulus membraneaceus, and discrimination learning ability of developed rats were improved obviously.


CONCLUSIONS
Astragulus membraneaceus has a strong protective effect on neuronal damage in the immature rat hippocampus, which is ralated reducing caspase-3 expression.
Jia
Rui-zhe
RZ
College of Clinical Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China. rzjia9599@yahoo.com.cn
Jiang
Li
L
Qiao
Li-xing
LX
Chen
Ping-sheng
PS
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases