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Protective Effects of Catalpol on Limb Motor Function and Ultrastructure of Hippocampal Neurons in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia

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Abstract

This study aimed to examine the protective effects of catalpa on ultrastructure of hippocampal neuron and limb motor function in rats with cerebral ischemia. 90 healthy Sprague–Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control (n = 30) and model (n = 60) groups. Cerebral ischemia and hippocampal neurons were induced by occluding the internal carotid artery and injection of high blood glucose, respectively. Model rats were randomly divided into routine (n = 30) and observational (n = 30) groups. Animals in the routine group received edaravone injection (7 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, while rats in the observation group were treated with catalpol (30 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. Limb motor function score, fine motion execution capability, number of hippocampal neurons retained, and the ultrastructure of hippocampal nerve cells were considered at 3, 7, and 14 days after treatments. A significant difference was observed in the mean scores of limb motor function, fine motor execution ability, and the number of hippocampal neurons retained between groups (p < 0.001). Repetitive treatments with catalpol significantly improved the mean number of hippocampal neurons retained (p < 0.01), limb motor function (p < 0.001), and fine motor execution ability scores (p < 0.01) at 3, 7, and 14 days compared to edaravone. Catalpol treatments also improved the ultrastructure morphology of neuronal cells. Catalpa can effectively improve limb motor function and protect hippocampal neuron function in rats with cerebral ischemia.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

SD:

Sprague–Dawley

MCAO:

Middle cerebral artery occlusion

SLMF:

Scores of limb motor function

DIGC:

The differences of intra-group comparison

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Key Project of University Research Fund of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XJEDU2021I018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xinjiang Medical University, Ürümqi, 830011, China

    Shanshan Xie, Yong Zhi & Binfang Zeng

  2. Key Laboratory of Mind Development and Learning Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Ürümqi, China

    Shanshan Xie

Authors
  1. Shanshan Xie
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  2. Yong Zhi
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  3. Binfang Zeng
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Contributions

SX, YZ, and BZ conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Binfang Zeng.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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All experiments were performed according to standard protocols, incompliance with the Guide of the Animal Ethics Committee of Xinjiang Medical University.

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Xie, S., Zhi, Y. & Zeng, B. Protective Effects of Catalpol on Limb Motor Function and Ultrastructure of Hippocampal Neurons in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia. Mol Biotechnol 64, 213–219 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-021-00407-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-021-00407-7

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