Experimental Study of Nitric Oxide and the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells after Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats and Treatment with Tongxinluo

ObjectiveTo investigate the change of nitric oxide(NO) and the differentiation of neural stem cells after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats and treatment with Tongxinluo.MethodsIschemia was induced by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).On the 3,7,14 and 21 days after MCAO,the contents of NO were detected.In ependyma and subependymal region(SVZ) 、Hippocampus dentate gyrus(SGZ),the numbers of BrdU were detected by immunohistochemistry.ResultsCompared with the sham operation group,NO significantly decreased in the MCAO on the 7,14 and 21 days(P0.05).After the treatment of Tongxinluo,the contents of NO significantly increased in the MCAO;the numbers of BrdU significantly increased as compared with the MCAO group(P0.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that focal cerebral ischemia in the rat results in a rapid response,from resident astrocytes and nerve cell 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;NO might play an important role in cerebral ischemic injury.