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Effects and mechanism of Weinaokang (维脑康) on reperfusioninduced vascular injury to cerebral microvessels after global cerebral ischemia

  • Experimental Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

To study the effects of the Weinaokang (维脑康, WNK), the active compounds extracted from Ginkgo, Ginseng, and saffron, on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced vascular injury to cerebral microvessels after global cerebral ischemia.

Methods

Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (10 animals/group): the sham group (0.5% CMC-Na, 20 mL/kg), the I/R model group (0.5% CMCNa, 20 mL/kg), the I/R+Crocin control group (20 mg/kg), the I/R+high dose WNK group (20 mg/kg), and the I/R+low dose WNK group (10 mg/kg). Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO, 20 min) in mice, followed by 24 h reperfusion, was built. The generation of nitric oxide (NO), the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in cortical microvascular homogenates were evaluated. The ultrastructural morphology of cortical microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) was observed.

Results

The transient global cerebral ischemia (20 min), followed by 24 h of reperfusion, significantly promoted the generation of NO and the activity of NOS. The reperfusion led to serious edema with mitochondrial injuries in the cortical CMEC, as well as enhanced membrane GRK2 expression and reduced cytosol GRK2 expression. Furthermore, enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and decreased expression of MMP-9 were detected in cortical micovessels after I/R (20 min/24 h). As well as the positive control Crocin (20 mg/kg, 21days), pre-treatment with WNK (20, 10 mg/kg, 21 days) markedly inhibited nitrative injury and modulated the ultrastructure of CMEC. Furthermore, WNK inhibited GRK2 translocation from cytosol to the membrane (at 20 mg/kg) and reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MMP-9 expression in cortical microvessels.

Conclusion

WNK and its active compounds (Crocin) are effective to suppress I/R-induced vascular injury to cerebral microvessels after global cerebral ischemia with the target on GRK2 pathways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China

    Yong-qiu Zheng  (郑咏秋), Jian-xun Liu  (刘建勋), Xin-zhi Li  (李欣志) & Li Xu  (徐 立)

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  1. Yong-qiu Zheng  (郑咏秋)
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  2. Jian-xun Liu  (刘建勋)
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  3. Xin-zhi Li  (李欣志)
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  4. Li Xu  (徐 立)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jian-xun Liu  (刘建勋).

Additional information

Supported by the Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30830118), the National Key New Drug Project (No. 2009ZX09102-137, 2009ZX09502-014)

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Zheng, Yq., Liu, Jx., Li, Xz. et al. Effects and mechanism of Weinaokang (维脑康) on reperfusioninduced vascular injury to cerebral microvessels after global cerebral ischemia. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 16, 145–150 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-010-0145-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-010-0145-5

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