The activation of GFAP after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats and treatment with Tongxinluo

Objective: To investigate the activation of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats and treatment with Tongxinluo.Method:Ischemia was induced by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).In ependyma and subependymal zone(SVZ)?Hippocampus dentate gyrus zone(SGZ) of rats at 3?7?14 and 21 days after MCAO, the numbers of GFAP were detected by immunohistochemistry which were treated with Tongxinluo.Result:Compared with the sham operation group, GFAP was significantly increased in the MCAO on the day 7?14 and 21(P0.05). Immunofluorescene intensity of BrdU+GFAP had significantly increased in SVZ.After the treatment of Tongxinluo, the number of BrdU and immunofluorescene intensity of BrdU+GFAP were significantly increased as compared with the MCAO group(P0.05).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the focal cerebral ischemia in the rat results in a rapid response, a process often referred to as reactive GFAP, from resident astrocytes of the SVZ and SGZ to the side of ischemia;Tongxinluo enhances the ability of the differentiation and proliferation of neural stem cell in MCAO.