title: [Effects of baicalin on apoptosis in rats with autoimmune encephalomyelitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the therapeutic efficacy of baicalin and its effect on apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords in Wistar rats with autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (control, n=10), EAE group (n=12), and two intervention groups with dexamethasone (DXM) or baicalin. Seven days after immunization, the two intervention groups were injected intraperitoneally with DXM (1 mg/kg) and baicalin (200 mg/kg) for 1 week, respectively. The spinal cords were removed 14 days after immunization, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. MBP expression in spinal cords was detected by immunohistochemistry. The apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords was detected by TUNEL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The weight gain rate in the untreated EAE and the DXM or baicalin intervention groups were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The weight gain rate in the baicalin intervention group was significantly higher than that in the untreated EAE and the DXM intervention groups (P<0.05). The scores of neurological function in the two intervention groups were significantly higher than that in the untreated EAE group (P<0.05). DXM or baicalin treatment significantly increased the MBP expression compared with the untreated EAE group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of inflammatory cells increased more in the DXM and the baicalin intervention groups compared with the untreated EAE groups (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baicalin has protective effects against EAE in rats. It can promote the apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shi-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jing-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; C038044:baicalin; D003907:Dexamethasone