title: Berberry extract reduces neuronal damage and N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 immunoreactivity in the gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia.
abstract: In the present study, we studied the neuroprotective effects of berberry extract (BE) against ischemic damage and the temporal and spatial alterations of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor type 1 (NR1) and NR2A/2B immunoreactivities in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region after transient ischemia to examine anti-ischemic effects and its role in transient forebrain ischemia. In the vehicle-treated group, the percentage of cresyl violet positive pyramidal cells in the CA1 region was about 11.4% compared to the sham-operated group 4 d after ischemic insult. BE showed neuroprotective effects against ischemic damage after ischemia-reperfusion. In the BE-treated groups, about 60-75% of CA1 pyramidal cells were stained with cresyl violet 4 d after ischemic insult. We observed the percentage of berberine (7.45+0.85 mg/g in BE) by HPLC, which is active ingredient of BE. NR1 immunoreactivity in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region in the vehicle-treated group was significantly increased at 30 min after transient forebrain ischemia, while at this time the NR1 immunoreactivity in the BE-treated groups was significantly low compared to the vehicle-treated group. The pattern of NR2A/B immunoreactivity in the stratum pyramidale of the BE-treated group and its protein levels were similar to that in the vehicle-treated group after ischemic insult. These results suggest that BE has potent neuroprotective effects against ischemic damage via the reduction of NR1 activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Beong Ou
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Tae-Cheon
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dong-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Moo
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Dai
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Moo Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048588:Benzoxazines; D001599:Berberine / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D028142:Berberis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010078:Oxazines; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; C120997:NR2A NMDA receptor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010078:Oxazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D001599:Berberine; C028911:cresyl violet