• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.53-68
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• 2009

Objectives: This study demonstrates the neurological effects of Bojungikki-tang and Bojungikki-tang-gamibang on the focal cerebral ischemia of rats with ischemic damage caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: Rats were treated with Bojungikki-tang and Bojungikki-tang-gamibang extracts for about five days after MCAO, and the size and volume of cerebral infarction and the ratio of cerebral edema were observed. From the immunohistochemical view, significant changes of outbreak of Bax, Bcl-2, c-Fos, HSP72, and iNOS were observed in the brain tissues. Results: Bojungikki-tang repressed only brain edema and iNOS revelation led by focal cerebral ischemia, when considering significance. In contrast, Bojungikki-tang-gamibang demonstrated significant suppression of cerebral infarction, brain edema, Bax, c-Fos, HSP72, and iNOS induced by focal cerebral ischemia. Conclusions: Bojungikki-tang is considered functional treatment for cerebral ischemic damage; it can be effective to relieve secondary brain edema and immune response. Bojungikki-tang-gamibang can have a direct function to alleviate brain infarct and to control the natural death of nerve cells which cerebral ischemic damage brings about.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.146-161
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• 2005

Objectives : This study investigated neuroprotective effects of Polygoni Multiflori Radix on cerebral ischemia of hyperlipidemic rats. Methods : Effects of Polygoni Multiflori Radix were evaluated with changes of infarct size after He focal cerebral ischemia induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion, changes of pyramidal neurons and expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 apoptosis regulating factors after global cerebral ischemia, and changes of serum lipid revels after cerebral ischemia. Results & Conclusions : Results obtained were as follows; 1. Polygoni Multiflori Radix did net reduce the focal cerebral infarct size induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion under both hyperlipidemic and normal-lipid conditions. 2. Polygoni Multiflori Radix significantly reduced the increase of neuronal cell death in CAl region of hippocampus induced by the global cerebral ischemia under both hyperlipidemic and normal-lipid conditions. 3. Polygoni Multiflori Radix significantly reduced the increase of Bax expression in the CAl region of the hippocampus induced by global cerebral ischemia under both hyperlipidemic and normal-lipid conditions. 4. Polygoni Multiflori Radix significantly increased Bc1-2 expression in the CA1 region of the hippocampus after global cerebral ischemia under normal-lipid condition, but was not effective on that under hyperlipidemic condition. 5. Polygoni Multiflori Radix was not effective on serum total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels under normal-lipid conditions, irrespective of focal cerebral infarct or global cerebral ischemia. 6. Polygoni Multiflori Radix significantly reduced the increase of serum total-cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increased serum LDL-cholesterol level under hyperlipidemic conditions, irrespective of foc31 cerebral infarct or global cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1777-1783
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine the effects Wonjiseokchangpo-san on brain damage in transient focal cerebral ischemia. Rats were used for testing in the following three models: Morris Water Maze, Eight-Arm Radial Maze, and Histochemistry. In the Morris Water Maze Model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the 3rd and 6th training session compared with the ischemia group. A retention test, in the Morris Water Maze Model, was performed on the 7th day without the escape platform. The Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. In the Eight-Arm radial Maze model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the error rate compared to the ischemia group. In the density of hippocampal CA1 cell of the cresyl violet-stained section, the Wonjiseokahangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. These results suggest that Wonjiseokchangpo-san may have a significant protective effect on brain damage and cognitive dysfunction in transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.52-62
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effects of Geupunggibodan on brain damage in transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods: Rats were used for testing in the following three models: Morris water maze, eight-ann radial maze, and histochemistry. Results: In the Morris water maze model, the Geupunggibodan group showed significant decrease in the 3rd, 4th and 6th training sessions compared with the ischemia, group. A retention test in the Morris water maze model was performed on the 7th day without the escape platform. The Geupunggibodan group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. In the eight-ann radial maze model, the Geupunggibodan group showed significant decrease in the error rate compared to the ischemia group. In the density of hippocampal CA1 cell of the cresyl violet-stained section, the Geupunggibodan group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. Conclusions: These results suggest that Geupunggibodan may have a significant protective effect on brain damage and cognitive dysfunction in transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2005

This study aimed to investigate the cerebroprotective effect of nociceptin on transient focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats by determining the changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and the infarct size. Right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 2 hours, and thereafter was followed by reperfusion by an intraluminal monofilament technique. An open cranial window was made on the right parietal bone for determination of continuous changes in rCBF by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The infarct size was morphometrically determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique. In normal rats, nociceptin ($0.01\~100\;nmol/kg$, Lv.) increased rCBF and decreased cerebral arterial resistance in a dose-dependent manner. Systemic arterial blood pressure was little affected by nociceptin at the doses of 0.01 and 0.1nmol/kg, but dose-dependently reduced at the doses of 1 nmol/kg or more. In transient cerebral ischemic rats, nociceptin ($0.01\~0.1$ nmol/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated the postischemic cerebral hyperemia, and progressively increased rCBF. The improving effect of nociceptin on the postischemic rCBF response was markedly blocked by pretreatment with $[Nphe^1]nociceptin(1-13)NH_2$ (1 nmol/kg, i.p.), a selective nociceptin receptor antagonist, but not by naloxone ($3{\mu}mol/kg$, i.p.), a selective opioid receptor antagonist. The cerebral infarct size was significantly reduced by nociceptin ($0.01\~0.1$ nmol/kg) administered i.p. 5 min after MCA occlusion in transient cerebral ischemia of 2-hour MCA occlusion and 22-hour reperfusiion. It is suggested that nociceptin improves the postischemic cerebral hemodynamics and thereby has a cerebroprotective effect in transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2001

Objective : Albumin is a very useful drug for the improving of cerebral blood volume and the oncotic effect in cerebral ischemia or cerebral vasospasm. The purpose of this study was to examine the morphological and neurological effect of albumin therapy on reperfusion injury following transient focal cerebral ischemia. Materials and Methods : 18 Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 270-320g were used. The ischemia model was produced by 2-hour period of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion with a poly-L-lysin coated intraluminal suture. The agent(20% human serum albumin[HSA]) or control solution(NaCl 0.9%) was administered intravenously at a dosage of 1% of body weight immediate after reperfusion following a 2-hour period occlusion. Neurological function was evaluated by the postural reflex and the forlimb placing test during occlusion(at 60 min) and daily for 3 days thereafter. The brain was perfusion-fixed, and infarct volumes and brain edema were measured. Results : The HSA significantly improved the neurological score in treated group. The rats of albumin treatment group showed significantly reduced total infarct volume(by 34%) and brain edema(by 81%) compared with salinetreated rats. Conclusion : HSA showed a substantial effect on the transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury model. These results may indicate its usefulness in treating reperfusion injury patients after thrombolysis treatment for the thrombo-embolic major cerebral artery occlusions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.355-363
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• 2005

This study aimed to investigate the cerebroprotective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on permanent focal cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. Right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 6 and 24 hours by an intraluminal monofilament technique. An open cranial window was made on the right parietal bone for determination of continuous changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by laser-Doppler flowmetry. The infarct size was morphometrically determined using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique. Brain edema was determined by measuring brain water content. In normal rats, rCBF was significantly increased by intravenous infusion of VEGF for 10 minutes. The VEGF-induced increase in rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with suramin, a heparin-binding growth factor inhibitor as well as $N^{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. In focal cerebral ischemic rats, the amplitude of decrease in rCBF during ischemic period was significantly less in VEGF-treated group, compared with that in vehicle-treated group. The cerebral infarct size was reduced by VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The brain edema formation was dose-dependently reduced by VEGF in 24-hour MCA occlusion group but not in 6-hour MCA occlusion group. It is suggested that VEGF not only improves the rCBF during cerebral ischemic period but also reduces the brain edema formation, and thereby exert a protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2007

Objective : To elucidate the role of aquaporin-4[AQP4] in cerebral edema formation, we studied the expression and subcellular localization of AQP4 in astrocytes after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods : Cerebral ischemia were induced by permanent middle cerebral artery[MCA] occlusion in rats and estimated by the discoloration after triphenyltetrazolium chloride[TTC] immersion. Change of AQP4 expression were evaluated using western blot. Localization of AQP4 was assessed by confocal microscopy and its interaction with ${\alpha}-syntrophin$ was analyzed by immunoprecipitation. Results : After right MCA occlusion, the size of infarct and number of apoptotic cells increased with time. The ratio of GluR1/GluR2 expression also increased during ischemia. The polarized localization of AQP4 in the endfeet of astrocytes contacting with ventricles, vessels and pia mater was changed into the diffuse distribution in cytoplasm. The interactions of AQP4 and Kir with ${\alpha}-syntrophin$, an adaptor of dystrophin complex, were disrupted by cerebral ischemia. Conclusion : The deranged spatial buffering function of astrocytes due to mislocalized AQP4/Kir4.1 channel as well as increased assembly of $Ca^{2+}$ permeable AMPA receptors might contribute to the development of edema formation and the excitotoxic neuronal cell death during ischemia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2000

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of Woowhangcheongshim-won(WCW) on the extracellular concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters(glutamate, aspartate, GABA, glycine, taurine, alanine, and tyrosine) and organic acid (lactate and pyruvate) in striatum and cerebral infarction volume in rats subjected to permanent focal cerebral ischemia induced by 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO), using intracerebral microdialysis as the sampling technique, Microdialysis probes were inserted into the lateral part of the caudate-putamen 2 hours before the experiment and microdialyzates were collected at 20min intervals and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, WCW significantly decreased the infarction volume with reducing focal cerebral ischemia-induced increase of extracellular glutamate, asparate, and tyrosine. On the other hand, the increase of GABA and taurine was enhanced after treatment of WCW in the ischemia-induced rats, These results suggest that WCW can produce a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia by regulating extracellular excitatory and inhibitory amino acid levels in relation to the concept of excitotoxicity in brain ischemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.596-602
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• 2006

This study evaluated neuroprotective effect of Sunghyangjungki-San (SHS) on the focal cerebral ischemia. The rats were induced infarct in cerebral cortex and caudoputamen by using temporal occlussion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO), then water extract of SHS was treated for MCAO rats. Neuroprotective effect was evaluated by neurological score, infarct sizes and total volume, positive neurons against Bax, Caspase-3, HSP-72, and $HIF-1{\alpha}$ in infarct area with immunohistochemistry. The results obtained were as follows: Treatment of SHS improved neurological score of MCAO rats, but there was not a statistical significance. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly infarct sizes in the brain sections of MCAO rats. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly total volume of infarct of MCAO rats. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly Bax positive neurons in penumbra of cerebral cortex of MCAO rats. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly Caspase-3 positive neurons in caudoputamen and penumbra of cerebral cortex of MCAO rats. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly HSP-72 positive neurons in penumbra of cerebral cortex of MCAO rats. Treatment of SHS reduced significantly $IF-1{\alpha}$ positive neurons in penumbra of cerebral cortex of MCAO rats.