Tongxinluo attenuates neuronal loss and enhances neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the ipsilateral thalamus and improves neurological outcome after focal cortical infarction in hypertensive rats
Affiliations: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China | Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong | Department of Neurology, Wuzhou Red Cross Hospital, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Note: [] These authors contributed equally to this study.
Note: [] These authors contributed equally to this study.
Note: [] Corresponding author: Jinsheng Zeng, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong. Fax: +86 20 87335935; E-mail: zengjs@pub.guangzhou.gd.cn
Abstract: Purpose: Tongxinluo, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine complex, has been widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases in China. The present study was to explore whether treatment with tongxinluo could improve neurological function and alleviate secondary damage in the ipsilateral thalamus after focal cortical infarction in hypertensive rats. Methods: Tongxinluo was given through oral gavage starting 24 h after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neurological function was assessed and then rats were sacrificed 7 and 14 days after MCAO. Brains were harvested for examining infarction volume, Nissl staining and immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Compared with vehicle treatment, tongxinluo remarkably improved neurological function without reducing infarction volume, attenuated neuronal loss and astrocyte activation in the ipsilateral thalamus 7 and 14 days after MCAO (all p < 0.05). Also, tongxinluo markedly increased the number of BrdU+/nestin+ and BrdU+/NeuN+ cells 14 days after MCAO. Moreover, vascular density, the number of BrdU+ vascular endothelial cells, and vascular perimeter in the ipsilateral thalamus were markedly increased in the tongxinluo group relative to that of the vehicle group (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Administration of tongxinluo 24 h after cortical infarction may promote neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the ipsilateral thalamus and improves neurological function after cortical infarction in rats.
