Ameliorating effects of Kangen-karyu on neuronal damage in rats subjected to repeated cerebral ischemia.
We previously reported that 21-day (14-day pre-ischemic and 7-day post-ischemic) treatment with Kangen-karyu (KGKR) improved spatial memory impairment and hippocampal neuronal death induced by repeated cerebral ischemia (2 x 10-min, 1-h interval) in rats. In the present study, we examined the effect of single and 14-day pre-ischemic KGKR treatment on neuronal damage in the same repeated cerebral ischemia model. Additionally, to determine the mechanisms of neuroprotection by KGKR at glutamatergic neurons, we examined the effects of KGKR on glutamate release induced by repeated cerebral ischemia in vivo, and on cell damage induced by both glutamate and kainate in primary cultured hippocampal neurons in vitro. The 14-day pre-ischemic KGKR (300 mg/kg, oral administration (p.o.)) treatment reduced neuronal damage and astrocyte expression induced by repeated cerebral ischemia. No effect was observed after single pre-ischemic KGKR treatment. Both single and 14-day KGKR treatment decreased glutamate release in the hippocampal CA1 region in intact rats; however, neither pre-ischemic KGKR treatment altered glutamate release during cerebral ischemia. In vitro, KGKR (100-1000 microg/mL) dose-dependently suppressed hippocampal neuronal damage induced by both glutamate (100 microM) and kainate (1 mM). These data suggest neuroprotection with KGKR requires continuous pre-ischemic treatment, and that the mechanisms of protection may be involved in inhibiting the glutamatergic receptors of the post-synaptic neurons.
Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Fengling
F
Pu
Tomohiro
T
Kaneko
Makiko
M
Enoki
Keiichi
K
Irie
Takuya
T
Okamoto
Yasuo
Y
Sei
Nobuaki
N
Egashira
Ryozo
R
Oishi
Kenichi
K
Mishima
Hidetoshi
H
Kamimura
Katsunori
K
Iwasaki
Michihiro
M
Fujiwara
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C468270:Kangen-karyu; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents