The mechanism of Gastrodin on behavior and brain edema in rats with traumatic brain injury by regulating miR-181b

ZHU Gang-yi; ZHU Yi-tong; LU Zhao-feng

doi:10.13820/j.cnki.gdyx.20233257

Abstract：Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Gastrodin(GAS)regulates miR-181b in rats with traumatic brain injury(TBI)and its effects on behavior and brain edema.Methods 120 SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group,Model group(TBI model),low-dose GAS group(GAS-L group,50 mg/kg GAS),high-dose GAS group(GAS-H group,100 mg/kg GAS),high-dose GAS+miR-181b antagomir NC group(GAS-H+miR-181b antagomir NC group,100 mg/kg GAS+200 nmol miR-181b antagomir NC),and high-dose GAS+miR-181 b antagomir group(GAS-H+miR-181b antagomir group,100 mg/kg GAS+200 nmol miR-181b antagomir),with 20 rats in each group.Modified neurological severity scores(mNSS)were used to assess the neurologi-cal function of rats.Rotarod test and open field test were employed to evaluate behavioral changes.Brain tissue water con-tent was measured using the wet-dry method.Histopathological changes in rat brain tissues were observed through HE staining.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was used to determine miR-181b levels in rat brain tis-sues.Western blot was performed to assess the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and aquaporin(AQP)-4 in rat brain tissues.Results Compared with the Sham group,rats in the Model group showed significantly in-creased mNSS scores,brain tissue water content,expression of MMP-9 and AQP4 in brain tissues(P＜0.05),de-creased fall time in the rotarod test,reduced central stay time in the open field test,and decreased miR-181 b levels in brain tissues(P＜0.05).Neurons in the rat cerebral cortex were atrophied,structurally disordered,and cell contours were unclear,indicating severe brain damage.Compared with the Model group,rats in the GAS-H group showed oppo-site trends in the above indicators(P＜0.05).miR-181b antagomir attenuated the alleviating effects of GAS on TBI-induced behavioral disorders and brain edema.Conclusion GAS may improve TBI-induced behavioral disorders and brain edema in rats by upregulating the expression of miR-181b.