Effects of naoshuning on the plasma TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 levels in a rat brain ischemia-reperfusion injury model

To investigate the effects of naoshuning on plasma TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 levels in a rat brain ischemia-reperfusion injury model. 72 rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=18): Sham group, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group, naoshuning group and ginaton group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in rats for 2 h followed by 1, 7 and 14 days of reperfusion. Animals were sacrificed and the plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 were detected by ELISA and radioimmunoassay. After brain ischemia-reperfusion injury, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 in the plasma of rats in IR group were significantly higher than that in sham group (p<0.05); after the treatment with naoshuning, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 in the plasma was significantly decreased when compared with those in the remaining groups (P<0.05). When compared with the MCAO group, the TNF-α, IL-1β and ICAM-1 levels in naoshuning group was decreased after injury (P<0.05). Naoshuning can decrease the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), improving brain ischemia reperfusion injury. Key words: Naoshuning, brain ischemia reperfusion, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, intercellular adhersion molecule-1.