Effects of Yindan Xinnaotong on neural cell apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion

Objective To investigate the protective effects ofYindan Xinnaotong (YDXNT) on neural cell apoptosis in the hippocampus CA1 regions of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion and discuss the molecule mechanism of YDXNT treatment in cerebral ischemia.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,model group,positive control group (nimodipine treatment group) and YDXNT treatment group.Prctreatment by continuous intragastric administration for 7 days were given to the rats in the nimodipine treatment group and YDXNT treatment group,while rats in the sham-operated group and model group daily were fed with isovolumic distilled water.Middle cerebral artery models were established by a modified Longa occlusion method in the eighth day.Positive cell population in the hippocampus CA1 region of rats with ischemia 2 h and reperfusion 24 h was marked by TUNEL,and the caspase-3 expression was measured by immunohistochemical method.Results As compared with that in the control group,the number of apoptosis and Caspase-3-positive cells was significantly increased (P＜0.05),decreased number of apoptosis and Caspase-3-positive cells in the YDXNT treatment group and nimodipine treatment group was noted as compared with that in the vihicle group (P＜0.05); however,no difference of them between the nimodipine treatment group and YDXNT treatment group was noted (P＞0.05).Conclusion YDXNT has some protective effect on rats with brain ischemia reperfusion injury,by reducing cell population of apoptosis,whose effect may be related to the reduced expression of Caspase-3. Key words: Yindan Xinnaotong;  Cerebral ischemia reperfusion;  Cell apoptosis;  Caspase-3