[Effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and neutrophil infiltration in cerebral infarction tissue of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (Pns) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and brain neutrophil infiltration induced by transient focal cerberal ischemia and reperfusion in rats. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in rats (male) were made by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. Pns 25 and 50 mg/kg were administered ip at 2 h after reperfusion. At 24 h after reperfusion, neutrophil infiltration and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured with myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: After ischemia reperfusion, the expression of ICAM-1 and MPO activity in the ischemic hemisphere cortex of MCA area and caudate putamen were markedly increased. Treatment with 50 mg/kg Pns inhibited neutrophil infiltration and the expression of ICAM-1. CONCLUSION: Pns inhibited neutrophil infiltration and the expression of ICAM-1 following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats, attenuated the ischemic brain inflammation.