[Inhibitory effects of saikosaponin a on rat hippocampal astrocyte activation in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of saikosaponin a (SSa) on Glu-activated hippocampal astrocytes of rats.


METHODS
Neonatal rat (1-3 days) hippocampal astrocytes were obtained and divided into control group, L-Glu activation group and SSa groups with SSa treatment at 5, 2.5, and 1.25 mg/L. The cell proliferation, cell cycle changes, and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after the treatments were assessed with MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively.


RESULTS
In comparison with Glu-activation group, SSa treatment resulted in significant inhibition of the cell proliferation, cell division and GFAP expression in the Glu-activated astrocytes (P < 0.05). SSa at 2.5 mg/L showed the strongest inhibitory effects against astrocyte activation and maintained nearly normal level of astrocyte activation in comparison with the control group (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Glu-induced activation of rat hippocampal astrocytes can be inhibited by SSa, whose antiepileptic effects is probably mediated by inhibition of hippocampal astrocyte activation.
Xie
Wei
W
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. xieweizn@fimmu.com
Lin
Jia
J
Zhang
Zuo-wen
ZW
Zhou
Ye
Y
Bao
Yong
Y
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012503:Saponins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C025759:saikosaponin D