Neuroprotective effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats--time window and mechanism.
BACKGROUND
Buyang Huanwu Decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine, consists of different herbal medicines, and has been traditionally used for centuries to treat paralysis and stroke. However, its optimal therapeutic time window and the mechanism are still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to explore the therapeutic time window and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.


METHODS
Middle cerebral artery occlusion was conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and 40g/kg of Buyang Huanwu Decoction was intragastrically infused at different time points, and the same dose was infused every 24h for 3 days. The level of glutamate in cerebrospinal fluid and the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 RNA in striatum were detected before, during, and after ischemia/reperfusion. Neurological deficit scores and brain infarction volumes were measured at 72h after reperfusion.


RESULTS
Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion resulted in significant neurological deficit and extensive cerebral infarct volume, associated with a large amount of glutamate in cerebrospinal fluid and elevation of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 RNA expression. Buyang Huanwu Decoction significantly suppressed the release of glutamate, and reduced the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 RNA. The neurological defect score and infarction volume were significantly improved by administration of Buyang Huanwu Decoction, when compared with the Ischemia group.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of Buyang Huanwu Decoction, within 4h of post-transient focal stroke, reduced significant cerebral ischemia/reperfusion damage. The neuroprotective mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction is, in part, associated with the down-regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 RNA and inhibition of glutamate release resulting from cerebral ischemia.
Department of Neurology, The Xuzhou Medical College Affiliated Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
Lian-Dong
LD
Zhao
Jian-Hua
JH
Wang
Guang-Rong
GR
Jin
Ying
Y
Zhao
Hai-Jun
HJ
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009835:Oligochaeta; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; C460102:buyang huanwu; D018698:Glutamic Acid