Ginkgo biloba extract protects diabetic rats against cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury by suppressing oxidative stress and upregulating the expression of glutamate transporter 1.

The current study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the progression of acute cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury in diabetic rats, and to determine the molecular mechanism associated with this effect. Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were pretreated with GbE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day; intragastric) for 3 weeks. During this period, body weight changes and fasting blood glucose levels were assessed each week.

Dexmedetomidine protects against learning and memory impairments caused by electroconvulsive shock in depressed rats: Involvement of the NMDA receptor subunit 2B (NR2B)-ERK signaling pathway.

Cognitive impairment is a common adverse effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during treatment for severe depression. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a sedative-anesthetic drug, is used to treat post-ECT agitation. However, it is not known if DEX can protect against ECT-induced cognitive impairments.

The antidepressant-like effect of alarin is related to TrkB-mTOR signaling and synaptic plasticity.

Alarin is a newly derived neuropeptide from a splice variant of the galanin-like peptide gene. We previously showed that alarin has an antidepressant-like effect by increasing the activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) pathways, mediated by the tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor in the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model. Administration of rapamycin, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, prevents the rapid antidepressant-like effect induced by ketamine in animal models, indicating a vital role of mTOR in depression pathophysiology.

Cytokines and glucocorticoid receptors are associated with the antidepressant-like effect of alarin.

Little is known about the physiological or pharmacological properties of alarin, a new neuropeptide belonging to the galanin family. We previously showed that alarin has an antidepressant-like effect and is associated with a decrease in the hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that is observed in patients with depression using unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mouse model of depression. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been uncovered.

Dexmedetomidine prevents post-ischemic LTP via presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms.

Increasing evidence indicates that dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has a neuroprotective effect against cerebral injury. However, it remains unknown whether and how DEX functionally prevents the pathological form of synaptic plasticity caused by ischemia in the hippocampal CA1 neurons. To address this issue, we analyzed the role of DEX using a model of brain ischemia (oxygen and glucose deprivation, OGD) referred to as post-ischemic LTP (i-LTP).

Antidepressant-like effects of alarin produced by activation of TrkB receptor signaling pathways in chronic stress mice.

Alarin is a newly identified member of the galanin family of neuropeptides. Until now, research on alarin is limited compared with other members of the galanin family. Unearthing the new biological effects of alarin and its unidentified receptor(s) interests us.

Dynamic metabolites profile of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion revealed by (1)H NMR-based metabolomics contributes to potential biomarkers.

Current metabolomic studies of ischemic brain mainly attach importance on a certain ischemic period, are lack of data about dynamic metabolites in ischemic stroke process, especially early period. Thus, in this study, (1)H NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate biochemical changes in the early stages of rats' focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Serum samples of 0, 0.

Alarin-induced antidepressant-like effects and their relationship with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in mice.

Alarin is a newly identified member of the galanin family of peptides. Galanin has been shown to exert regulatory effects on depression. Similar to galanin in distribution, alarin is also expressed in the medial amygdala and hypothalamus, i.

Penehyclidine hydrochloride protects against oxygen and glucose deprivation injury by modulating amino acid neurotransmitters release.

Penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) is an anticholinergic agent, with only high degree of selectivity for M1 and M3 receptor subtypes. In this study, we investigated whether PHC could play a protective effect on hippocampal slice against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), as well as related to the change of amino acid neurotransmitters release. Penehyclidine hydrochloride 2, 10, and 50 μM doses were adopted in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining.

A selective M1 and M3 receptor antagonist, penehyclidine hydrochloride, prevents postischemic LTP: involvement of NMDA receptors.

Our previous and other studies have confirmed that a selective M1 and M3 receptor antagonist, Penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC), has neuroprotection activity in cerebral ischemia. However, the precise mechanisms of protection of PHC are still elusive. In this study we analyzed PHC-mediated neuroprotection on a model of brain ischemia (oxygen and glucose deprivation), named postischemic LTP (i-LTP).

[The effect of oxymatrine on aging mice caused by D+ -galactose].

Objective: To investigate the effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on aging mouse caused by D (+)-Galactose.

Methods: Healthy Kunming mouse were randomly divided into control, model and treated groups. The treated group was divided into three subgroups which were given oxymatrine 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg,20 mg/kg (OMT5, OMT10, OMT20).

(1)H NMR-based metabolomics exploring biomarkers in rat cerebrospinal fluid after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

In our study, metabolomics was used to investigate biochemical changes in the early stages of rats focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples at 0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 h of reperfusion (n = 10), based on (1)H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analyses, were tested to analyze the changing of metabolites during the early disease process.

Regulated hypoxia/reperfusion-dependent modulation of ERK1/2, cPLA2, and Bcl-2/Bax: a potential mechanism of neuroprotective effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride.

The activation of event-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and cytosolic phospholipaseA2 (cPLA2), which can aggravate hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) damage related to their downstream Bcl-2/Bax and Caspase-3 pathway, plays a key role in H/R. The M1 receptors could be responsible for activation of ERK1/2. Thus, it seems that the regulation of M1 receptors mediated the ERK1/2; cPLA2-mediated Bcl-2/Bax pathway may be a significant responsive signal in H/R.

Improvement of contractile function in isolated cardiomyocytes from ischemia-reperfusion rats by ginkgolide B pretreatment.

Ginkgo biloba extract is an important natural product for treatment of cerebral and cardiovascular diseases, whereas ginkgolide B (GB) is a main component of it. Its effects on ischemic heart and ventricular contractile function in Sprague-Dawley male rats are unclear yet. In the present study, we investigated the function of isolated hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) with or without GB pretreatment by using Millar transducer instruments.

Oestrogen changed cardiomyocyte contraction and beta-adrenoceptor expression in rat hearts subjected to ischaemia-reperfusion.

Women with functional ovaries have a lower cardiovascular risk than men and postmenopausal women. However, oestrogen replacement therapy remains controversial. This study examined the effect of ovarian hormone deficiency and oestrogen replacement on ventricular myocyte contractile function and expression of beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs).

[Effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid receptor on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

This study is to investigate the effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid receptor (GHBR) on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its mechanism. NCS-356 (the agonist of GHBR) and NCS-382 (the antagonist of GHBR) were adopted as the tool medicine. The ripe male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 240 - 280 g were randomly divided into seven groups: sham operation group (sham), ischemia-reperfusion group (Isc/R), NCS-356 160 microg x kg(-1) group (N1), NCS-356 320 microg x kg(-1) group (N2), NCS-356 640 microg x kg(-1) group (N3), NCS-382 640 microg x kg(-1) + NCS-356 640 microg x kg(-1) group (NCS-382 + N3), and nimodipine (Nim) 600 microg x kg(-1) group.

Fumagillin treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats: an in vivo study of antiangiogenesis.

Aim: To investigate the effect and possible mechanisms of antiangiogenesis therapy for HCC in rats.

Methods: Adult male LEW/SsN rats were divided into 3 groups, 25 animals each. Group A was the control group.

Is the vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA expression in resectable hepatocellular carcinoma of prognostic value after resection?

Aim: To study whether vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA (VEGF mRNA) in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues obtained after curative resection has a prognostic value.

Methods: Using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based assay, VEGF mRNA was determined prospectively in liver tissues of 50 controls and in HCC tissues of 50 consecutive patients undergoing curative resection for HCC.

Results: Among the isoforms of VEGF mRNA, VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) were expressed.

Prognostic significance of preoperative circulating vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA expression in resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor messenger RNA (VEGF mRNA) in the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative resection.

Methods: Using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based assay, VEGF mRNA in the PB was determined prospectively in 50 controls and in 50 consecutive patients undergoing curative resection for HCC.

Results: Among the isoforms of VEGF mRNA, VEGF(165) and VEGF(121) were expressed.

[The protective effects of melatonin on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in gerbils].

Aim: To investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on histology and behavioral tests during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in gerbils.

Methods: Global cerebral ischemia was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid arteries for 10 min in gerbils. Three doses of MT were administrated intraperitoneally 30 min prior to the onset of ischemia.