title: [Effects of puerarin on the neurocyte apoptosis and p-Akt (Ser473) expressions in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of puerarin (Pue) on the neurocyte apoptosis and the p-Akt (Ser473) expression in the ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation group, the I/R group, the Pue treatment group, and the Pue + LY294002 treatment group (Pue + LY), 12 in each group. The cerebral I/R rat model was established by Longa's suture method. Pue and Pue + specific P13K kinase inhibitor, i.e., LY294002 were administered. The score of the neurological deficit was estimated 1 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. The infarct volume was measured using TTC staining. The number of apoptotic neurons were detected using Tunel method. The expressions of p-Akt (Ser473) was detected using immunohistochemical assay, and the images were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The score of the neurological deficit decreased more obviously, the number of apoptosis decreased more significantly, the expressions of p-Akt (Ser473) increased more significantly in the Pue group than in the I/R group (all P < 0.05). The score of the neurological deficit increased more obviously, the number of apoptosis increased more significantly, the expression of p-Akt (Ser473) decreased more significantly in the Pue + LY group than in the Pue group (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pue reduced the apoptosis of neurocytes and had protective effects against cerebral I/R injury possibly through activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Zunyi Medical College, Guangdong. gdshanjq@163.com
authors.forename: Jiang-quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kui-ying
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002867:Chromones; D007529:Isoflavones; D009025:Morpholines; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C033607:puerarin