title: Buyang Huanwu decoction facilitates neurorehabilitation through an improvement of synaptic plasticity in cerebral ischemic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Loss of neural function is a critical but unsolved issue after cerebral ischemia insult. Neuronal plasticity and remodeling are crucial for recovery of neural functions after brain injury. Buyang Huanwu decoction, which is a classic formula in traditional Chinese medicine, can positively alter synaptic plasticity. This study assessed the effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction in combination with physical exercise on neuronal plasticity in cerebral ischemic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cerebral ischemic rats were administered Buyang Huanwu decoction and participated in physical exercise after the induction of a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurobehavioral functions and infarct volumes were evaluated. The presynaptic (SYN), postsynaptic (GAP-43) and cytoskeletal (MAP-2) proteins in the coronal brain samples were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses. The ultrastructure of the neuronal synaptic junctions in the same region were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combination treatment of Buyang Huanwu decoction and physical exercise ameliorated the neurobehavioral deficits (p < 0.05), significantly enhanced the expression levels of SYN, GAP-43 and MAP-2 (p < 0.05), and maintained the synaptic ultrastructure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buyang Huanwu decoction facilitated neurorehabilitation following a cerebral ischemia insult through an improvement in synaptic plasticity. Graphical abstract The Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) combined with physical exercise (PE) attenuates synaptic disruption and promotes synaptic plasticity following cerebral ischemia (stroke).
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.|Post-doctoral Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Ruihuan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China. jcai_2015@163.com.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China. jcai_2015@163.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Lechang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Youhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatism, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Run-Yue
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Phase 1 Clinical Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Mingchao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 55 Neihuan Xi Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China. chx2004@126.com.|The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China. chx2004@126.com.
authors.forename: Hongxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C079240:Mtap2 protein, mouse; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C460102:buyang huanwu
keywords: Buyang Huanwu decoction; Cerebral ischemia; Neurorehabilitation; Synaptic plasticity