The Effects of Astragalus Injection on the Morphology and Expression of Apaf-1 in Hippocampal Neurons after Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats

LIU Rui; GAO Weijuan; QIAN Tao; WANG Li; DONG Yajie; DONG Xianhui

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-9896.2013.12.011

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of astragalus injection on the morphology and expression of Apaf-1 in hippocampal neurons after cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats. Methods The male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, sham-operated group, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group (reperfusion group) and astragalus injection interven-tion group (experiment group). The global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat model was established by Pulsinelli four-vessel occlusion method. The astragalus injection group was intraperitoneally injected with astragalus 6 mL/kg, 30 mins before sur-gery and repeated every 24 h. Rat brains were removed 24 h after reperfusion in each group. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the hippocampal neurons under the light microscope. The ultrastructural changes of hippocam-pal neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were used to measure the expression of apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1) protein. Results Compared with sham-operat-ed group, nuclear and mitochondrial damage was found in reperfusion group, and the expression of Apaf-1 protein increased obviously in hippocampus(Immunohistochemistry result:0.024 ± 0.001 vs 0.109 ± 0.011;Western blot result:0.270 ± 0.018 vs 0.894±0.072, P<0.01). Compared with reperfusion group, the damage in nuclear and mitochondria was relieved obviously in experiment group, and the expression of Apaf-1 protein in hippocampus was significantly decreased (Immunohistochemistry result:0.048±0.005;Western blot result:0.392±0.046, P<0.01). Conclusion Astragalus injection can reduce pathological damage of hippocampal neurons after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats, and the mechanism is related with inhibiting of Apaf-1 protein.