[Effects of Carthamus tinctorius injection on bcl-2, caspase-3 expression related to neurons apoptosis after local cerebral ischemia].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Carthamus tinctorius on bcl-2, caspase-3 expression of apoptosis of neurons.


METHODS
SD rats were randomly divided into ischemia control group, large-dose group, middle-dose group and low-dose group. The middle cerebral artery of rats was occluded for 2h by inserting an introluminal molofilament, and reperfusion was then instituted for 4h or 22h. The brains were stained with 2, 3, 5-triphenylte trazolinm chloride for assessment of volume of infarction, and then embedded onto slides with paraffin for morphological assessment and immunohistochemistry was carried out to investigate the changes in bcl-2 and caspase-3.


RESULTS
All treated groups at different times decreased the volume of infarction (P < 0.05), while large-dose group showed more distinct decrease than other groups (P < 0.05). All treated groups at different times increased bcl-2 and decreased caspase-3 expression as well, while large-dose group showed more distinct effect (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
C. tinctorius injection can reduce the volume of cerebral infarction, and increased bcl-2 and decreased caspase-3 expression.
Luo
Jia
J
Pharmacology Department, West China Medical Center of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Fang
Zhi-ping
ZP
Zhou
Li-ming
LM
Lai
Song-tao
ST
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases