Berberry extract reduces neuronal damage and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 immunoreactivity in the gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia

초록

In the present study, we studied the neuroprotective effects of berberry extract (BE) against ischemic damage and the temporal and spatial alterations of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor type 1 (NRI) and NR2A/2B immunoreactivities in the gerbil hippocampal CAI region after transient ischemia to examine anti-ischemic effects and its role in transient forebrain ischernia. In the vehicle-treated group, the percentage of cresyl violet positive pyramidal cells in the CAI region was about 11.4% compared to the sham-operated group 4d after ischemic insult. BE showed neuroprotective effects against ischemic damage after ischemia-reperfusion. In the BEtreated groups, about 60-751% of CAI pyramidal cells were stained with cresyl violet 4d after ischemic insult. We observed the percentage of berberine (7.45+0.85mg/g in BE) by, HPLC, which is active ingredient of BE. NR1 immunoreactivity in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region in the vehicle-treated group was significantly increased at 30 min after transient forebrain ischemia, while at this time the NR1 immunoreactivity in the BE-treated groups was significantly low compared to the vehicle-treated group. The pattern of NR2A/B immunoreactivity in the stratum pyramidale of the BE-treated group and its protein levels were similar to that in the vehicle-treated group after ischemic insult. These results suggest that BE has potent neuroprotective effects against ischemic damage via the reduction of NRI activity.

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