Neuroprotective effect of sodium ferulate on transient focal cerebral ischemia by weakening activation of postsynaptic density-95 in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of sodium ferulate (SF), an intravenous drug made from traditional Chinese herbs, on activation of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and neuroprotection after transient cerebral artery occlusion in rats.


METHODS
Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 2 groups (n=23 in each group): the control group and the SF group. After anesthesia, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was conducted with the intraluminal filament technique. The neurological deficit was assessed with the method devised by Bederson et al. The 2,3,4-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess the infarct volume. We adopted a modified six-point scale to conduct neurobehavioral evaluation. Immediately the activation of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) was studied with Western blot analysis system in the cortex and striatum of rat brain.


RESULTS
The neurologic deficit score of the SF group decreased substantially compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). The infarct volume of the control group (168.1 mm3 +/- 42.2 mm3) was significantly larger than that of the SF group (61.5 mm3 +/- 28.7 mm3) at 24 hours after reperfusion (P<0.01). And the rats showed some neurological deficit. The activity of PSD-95 in the SF group at most timepoints was less than that in the control group. No upregulation of PSD-95 protein could be detected in the contralateral cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Sodium ferulate can induce a neuroprotective effect against the transient focal cerebral ischemic injury and weaken the activation of PSD-95 in ischemic area after MCAO.
Wang
Qiang
Q
Department of Anesthesiology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. wangqiang@fmmu.edu.cn
Chen
Shao-yang
SY
Xiong
Li-ze
LZ
Jin
Wei-lin
WL
Yang
Jing
J
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C004999:ferulic acid