Effect of Astragalus membranaceus in rats on peripheral nerve regeneration: in vitro and in vivo studies.
BACKGROUND
This study provides in vitro and in vivo evaluation of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on peripheral nerve regeneration.


METHODS
In the in vitro study, we analyzed the effects of AM on cell differentiation and neurite outgrowth by using a PC12 cell model. In the in vivo study, silicone rubber chambers filled with the AM water extract were used to bridge a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect in rats.


RESULTS
We found that the AM water extract caused a marked enhancement of the nerve growth factor-mediated neurite outgrowth and the expression of growth-associated protein 43 from PC12 cells. Animals from the groups treated with the AM for 8 weeks had a relatively more mature structure with larger mean values of myelinated axon number, endoneurial area, and total nerve area when compared with those in the controls receiving the saline only.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the silicone rubber tubes present a good framework for the nerve fibers to regenerate across the gap, and the AM extract can be a potential nerve growth-promoting factor, being salutary in aiding the growth of axons in the peripheral nerve.
Lu
Ming-Chin
MC
School of Post Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua. lumc@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Yao
Chun-Hsu
CH
Wang
Ssu-Hung
SH
Lai
Yen-Liang
YL
Tsai
Chin-Chuan
CC
Chen
Yueh-Sheng
YS
D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery