Effect of Breviscapine on Brain Edema and Neutrophil Infiltration Induced by Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats

AIM To investigate whether breviscapine attenuates brain edema and neutrophil infiltration and inhibiton ICAM-1 expression in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats. METHODS Focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in rats were made by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. Breviscapine 50 and 75 mg•kg^ (-1) were administered ip at 1 h and repeated at 22 h after reperfusion. Twenty-four hours later, brain edema, neutrophil infiltration and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured with dry-wet weight, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS After ischemia reperfusion, brain water content was obviously increased, MPO activity and the expression of ICAM-1 in the ischemic hemisphere cortex of MCA area and caudate putamen were markedly increased. Treatment with breviscapine 50 and 75 mg•kg^ (-1) reduced brain edema, inhibited MPO activity and the expression of ICAM-1. CONCLUSION breviscapine attenuated brain edema and neutrophil infiltration after cerebral ischemia reperfusion.