Effect of Chinese herbal formulae (BU-SHEN-YI-QI granule) treatment on thrombin expression after ischemia/reperfusion

Abstract

Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi granule (BSYQG), a Chinese herbal formula, has been used for the treatment of ischemic stroke with proven efficacy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of BSYQG in neurovascular unit (NVU) and its mechanism of action on the thrombin expression in the cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) model. In the study, a rat model of I/R was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion operation (MCAO). Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 36): sham-operation; I/R; I/R + BSYQG(6 g/kg/day), I/R + Argatroban (0.56 mg/ml). Apoptotic cells in the NVU were detected by doubling-labeling using TUNEL assay and immunofluorescence. The dynamics of thrombin expression was detected using immunofluorescence on both sides after I/R injury. Compared with I/R group the numbers and rates of neuronal apoptosis in BSYQG groups significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the ischemic cortex the thrombin expression at 4 h was significantly higher than that at 1 h (P < 0.01) and 2 h (P < 0.01) after I/R. BSYQG treatment significantly reduced thrombin expression both at 4 h (P < 0.001) and 6 h (P < 0.05) after I/R. Therefore, BSYQG may exert its protective effects in NVU after I/R injury by inhibiting thrombin expression. The results provided the foundation for further investigation in the treatment of ischemic stroke.