title: Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation and neurotrophin expression of olfactory ensheathing cells.
abstract: Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is currently considered to be one of the most promising repair strategies for human spinal cord injury. However, the factors that regulate OECs are still poorly understood. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), the phytosterol from Panax ginseng, is a potent neuroprotective agent that promotes axonal regeneration. The aim of this study is to determine whether Rg1 would influence the biological activity of OECs. Primary cultured OECs from the olfactory bulb of neonatal rats were treated with Rg1 of various concentrations and durations. Using MTT and bromodeoxyuridine assays, we found that Rg1 significantly promoted cell proliferation, with an optimal concentration of 40 mug/ml of Rg1 at 72 h. In addition, RT-PCR and ELISA assays showed that Rg1 could upregulate the mRNA expression and secretion of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor. These results suggest that Rg1 may have a great potential in OEC therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yi-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: You-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Mao-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Qi-Rong
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D036145:Ginsenosides; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1