Effects of Rhubarb on brain dysfunction in septic rats

Guo A-ru; Ma Li; Li Du-peng; Zhang Bei; An Hong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-1949.2017.10.002

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of Rhubarb on brain dysfunction in septic rats. Methods A total of 84 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into three groups( n=28 each) , sham operation group(Sham), cecal ligation and puncture group(CLP), Rhubarb+ CLP group(R+CLP). Every group was then divided into two subgroups(A and B). Female rats were gavaged daily(1 mL/100 g body weight) with Rhubarb for three days. The same dose of saline was used in the control groups. Septic rat model was established by CLP. Survival rate was monitored in A groups, 10 days totally. In B groups, animals were euthanized at 12, 24 and 48 hours after CLP. Wet -dry weighting method was used to detect the brain water content ( BWC ) . The ELISA method was employed to determine the concentrations of plasma S100β, neuron -specific enolase ( NSE ) and the protein expression levels of brain tissue NF-κB, IL -6 and TNF -α. Then Hematoxylin and Eosin(HE)staining was used to detect brain pathologic change. Immunohistochemical SP method was applied to count the number of AQP-4 positive glial cells in brain tissues. Results ①The BWC values of the CLP and R +CLP group at all time points were significantly higher than those of the sham group at the same periods( P<0. 05), and which was lower in R+CLP group than that in CLP group at 6 h after CLP(P<0. 05).②CLP and R+CLP groups brain tissue levels of NF -κB, IL -6, and TNF -α were significantly increased compared with Sham group at each moment after CLP(P<0. 05), and R+CLP group brain tissue levels of NF-κB, IL-6, and TNF-α were also significantly lower than the CLP group at 24 h after CLP(P<0. 05). ③Compared with Sham group, the concentrations of plasma S100β, NSE were notably increased after CLP at each moment(P <0. 05), and which were significantly reversed by treatment with Rhubarb at 24 h after CLP ( P < 0. 05 ). ④Brain tissue HE staining showed the pathological damage were lightest in the sham group, however, the pathological damage in the CLP group was the most serious degree, and compared with the CLP group, the pathological damage was significantly decreased in the R +CLP group at 6 h after CLP(P <0. 05). ⑤The AQP -4 positive gliacyte cells in brain tissues in the CLP group were more than those in the sham group at each time( P<0. 05), but were significantly fewer than those in the CLP group at 6 h after CLP(P<0. 05). There was a significantly positive correlation between AQP-4 expression and brain water content( r=0. 895, P<0. 05). ⑥Rhubarb could prevented mortality in septic rats. Conclusion Rhubarb can inhibit the expressions of IL-6, and TNF-αproteins in rats with sepsis by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway, and ameliorate the CLP-induced brain tissue edema by down-regulating the expression of the brain gliacyte AQP-4.