title: Neuroprotective effect of baicalin in a rat model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia.
abstract: This investigation was performed to determine the neuroprotective effect of baicalin on permanent cerebral ischemia injury in rats and the potential mechanisms in this process. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The rats were then received intraperitoneal injection with baicalin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle. Morphological characteristic, neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct volume and the enzymatic activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured 24 h after pMCAO. The mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined by RT-PCR. Neuronal apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining and Western blot. Baicalin (30 and 100 mg/kg) reduced neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volume 24 h after pMCAO. Baicalin significantly decreased the enzymatic activity of MPO and the expression of iNOS mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in rat brain, it also significantly inhibited neuronal apoptosis and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein after pMCAO. Our results suggested that baicalin possesses potent anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties and attenuates cerebral ischemia injury. This protection might be associated with the downregulated expression of iNOS mRNA, COX-2 mRNA, and cleaved caspase-3 protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Kun
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Wei-Zhong
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Song-Sheng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Chun-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C038044:baicalin; D053148:Caspase 3