Objective: To investigate the effects of triptolide on inflammation and apoptosis induced by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Methods: The rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established according to Longa's method. A total of 80 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal control, sham group, DMSO group, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, and MCAO with tripolide treatment group. TTC staining was used to examine the site and volume of cerebral infarction, and Longa score was employed for neurological disorders measurement. Number of astrocytes was measured by fluorescence staining, and neuronal apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. The expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2) and NF-κB proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of iNOS, COX-2 mRNA was detected by real-time PCR. Results: Compared with DMSO group and MCAO group, brain edema was improved (80.03±0.46)% (P<0.05), infarct volume was reduced (8.3±1.4)% (P<0.01), Longa score was decreased (1.38±0.20, P<0.05) in triptolide treatment group. Meanwhile triptolide also dramatically reduced the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes (P<0.05), alleviated protein expression of COX-2 (91.67±1.31), iNOS (95.24±5.07) and NF-κB (75.03±2.06) triggered by MCAO (all P<0.05), and induced a down-regulation of cell apoptosis as showed by TUNEL assay (64.15±3.52, P<0.05). Conclusion: Triptolide can reduce the cerebral infarction volume, attenuate brain edema and ameliorate the neurological deficits induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury rats, indicating that it might be used as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.
目的: 探讨雷公藤甲素对局灶性脑组织缺血再灌注损伤大鼠脑组织的抗炎、抗凋亡等神经保护机制。
方法: 参照Longa的方法建立大鼠局灶性脑组织缺血再灌注损伤模型，80只SD大鼠随机分为健康对照组、手术对照组、溶剂对照组、模型对照组、雷公藤甲素组。TTC染色确定脑梗死的部位和体积，Longa法对神经功能障碍程度进行评分，荧光染色观察星形胶质细胞数量，TUNEL染色检测神经元凋亡情况，免疫组织化学检测诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、环氧化酶-2（COX-2）、NF-κB的蛋白表达情况，实时定量PCR测定各组大鼠iNOS和COX-2 mRNA表达量的变化。
结果: 相较于溶剂对照组和模型对照组，雷公藤甲素组大鼠大脑中动脉分布区域脑组织水肿改善明显（80.03±0.46）%（ P < 0.05），诱发梗死体积缩小（8.3±1.4）%（ P < 0.01），神经功能障碍程度较轻，Longa评分为1.38±0.20（ P < 0.05）；炎症相关因素如GFAP阳性星形胶质细胞的数量减少（ P < 0.05），COX-2、iNOS和NF-κB蛋白表达下降，分别为91.67±1.31、95.24±5.07和75.03±12.06（均 P < 0.05），且损伤区凋亡作用减轻，TUNEL阳性细胞数为64.15±3.52（ P < 0.05）。
结论: 在大鼠局灶性脑组织缺血再灌注模型中，雷公藤甲素能够对抗炎症及其相关凋亡，起到减轻脑水肿及梗死范围，缓解神经功能性障碍的保护作用。