title: Anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of Tetramethylpyrazine following spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is one of the most important active ingredients of a Chinese herb Ligusticum wallichii Franchat, which is widely used in many ischemia disorders treatments. However, the exact mechanism by which TMP protects the spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is still unknown. For this purpose, rabbits were randomly divided into sham group, control group and TMP group. After the evaluation of neurologic function, the spinal cords were immediately removed for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Apoptosis was measured quantitatively by the terminal transferase UTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and confirmed by electron microscopic examination, the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was immunohistochemically evaluated and quantified by Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurologic outcomes in the TMP-group were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). TMP decreased spinal cord malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and ameliorated the down regulation of spinal cord superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. TMP significantly reduced the loss of motoneurons and TUNEL-positive rate. Greater Bcl-2 and attenuated Bax expression was found in the TMP treating rabbits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that TMP has protective effects against spinal cord I/R injury by reducing apoptosis through regulating Bcl-2 and Bax expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xiwu Road, Xi'an, shaanxi, 710004, China. drfan2140@163.com
authors.forename: Li-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Kun-Zheng
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Dang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011719:Pyrazines; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine