• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.113-124
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• 2002

Objects: This research was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Bupleuri Radix against ischemic damage using PC12 cells and global ischemia in gerbils, Methods: To observe the protective effect of Bupleuri Radixon ischemic damage, viability and changes in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed after treating PC12 cells with Bupleuri Radix during ischemic damage. Gerbils were divided into three groups: a normal group, a 5-minute two-vessel occlusion (2VO) group and a Bupleun Radix administered group after 2VO. The CCAs were occluded by microclip for 5 minutes, Bupleuri Radix was administered orally for 7 days after 2VO. Histological analysis was performed on the 7th day. For histological analysis, the brain tissue was stained with 1 % of cresyl violet solution. Results: 1. Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the CA1 area of the gerbil's hippocampus 7 days after 5-minute occlusion. 2. In the hypoxia/reperfusion model using PC12 cells, the Bupleuri Radix has a protective effect against ischemia in the dose of 0.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml,2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml{\;}and{\;} 20{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$. 3. Bupleuri Radix increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase. 4. The increased activity of superoxidedismutase (SOD) by ischemic damage might have been induced as an act of self-protection. This study suggests that Bupleuri Radix has some neuroprotective effect against neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia in vivo with a widely used experimental model of cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Bupleuri Radix also has protective effect on a hypoxia/reperfusion cell culture model using PC12 cells. Conclusions: Bupleuri Radix has protective effect against ischemic brain damage during the early stages of ischemia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2009

Ginsenosides are among the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in South Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of compound K (CK), a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, on ischemia-induced isolated rat hearts were investigated through the analyses of the changes in the hemodynamics (blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output) and the measurement of the infarct region. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: the normal control, the CK-alone group, the ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and the ischemia-induced group treated with CK. No significant differences in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output were found between the groups before ischemia was induced. The oxygen and buffer supply was stopped for 30 min to induce ischemia 60 min after reperfusion in the isolated rat hearts, and the CK was administered 5 min before ischemia induction. The CK treatment significantly prevented decreases in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output under ischemic conditions. In addition, the hemodynamics (except for the heart rate) of the group treated with CK significantly recovered 60 min after reperfusion, unlike in the control group. CK significantly limited the infarct. These results suggest that CK treatment has distinct anti-ischemic effects in an exvivo model of an ischemia-reperfusion-induced rat heart.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2001

It has been proposed that nitirc oxide is involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Because superoxide production is also enhanced during reperfusion, the cytotoxic oxidant peroxynitrite could be formed, but it is not known if this occurs following global forebrain ischemia-reperfusion. We examined whether peroxynitrite generation is increased in the vulnerable regions after forebrain ischemia-reperfusion. Transient forebrain ischemia was produced in the conscious rat by four-vessel occlusion. Rats were subjected to 10 or 15 min of forebrain ischemia. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect 3-nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite production. 3-Nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was enhanced in the hippocampal CA1 area 3 days after reperfusion. Furthermore, in rats subjected to ischemia for 15 min, this change was also observed in the lateral striatal region and the lateral septal nucleus $2{\sim}3$ days after reperfusion. The cresyl violet staining of adjacent sections showed that neuronal cell death was induced in parallel with the nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1 area and the lateral striatal region. Our findings suggest that oxygen free radical accumulation and consequent peroxynitrite production play a role in neuronal death caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.835-840
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• 2008

Acupuncture has long been contended to be effective in an ischemic stroke. A real-time monitoring of glutamate, an excitotoxin in the process of ischemic neuronal damage, in the striatum is tried in a rat model of global ischemia. Global ischemia was induced by the 11 vessel occlusion method for 10 minutes, during which acupuncture stimulation on GB34 and GB39 points was executed. Glutamate release in the rat striatum was monitored 256 times per second using real-time amperometric biosensor. Real time measurement data of 10 minutes prior to the induction of ischemia served as baseline data. Data acquisition continued for 30 minutes after the initiation of reperfusion. Peak concentration of glutamate release along with incidentally measured EEG and cerebral blood flow was compared between cases with and without acupuncture stimulation. Peak concentration of glutamate lowered when acupuncture stimulation was executed. A real time monitoring system of 11 vessel-occlusion induced global ischemia model was successfully established. The effect by acupuncture on acute global ischemia was successfully observed in this real-time monitoring setting, which may be one of the neuroprotective mechanism of acupuncture.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.148.1-148.1
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• 2003

The effects of methanolic extracts of Polygalae Radix (PR 100mg/kg) was tested to evaluate on the neuroprotective activity (92％ p<0.001) on global cerebral schemia. Based on bioassays guided fractionation, butanol soluble fraction (BtOH 25mg/kg) had the neuroprotive effect (87％ p<0.001) of global cerebral ischemia in rat. Oxygen free radical injury plays an important role in neuronal damage induced by brain ischemia and reperfusion. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.167-172
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• 2006

In the present study, we developed a simple method to predict the neuronal cell death in the mouse hippocampus and striatum following transient global forebrain ischemia by evaluating both cerebral blood flow and the plasticity of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA). Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery (BCCAO) for 30 min. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. The plasticity of PcomA was visualized by intravascular perfusion of India ink solution. When animals had the residual cortical microperfusion less than 15% as well as the smaller PcomA whose diameter was less than one third compared with that of basilar artery, neuronal damage in the hippocampal subfields including CA1, CA2, and CA4, and in the striatum was consistently observed. Especially, when mice met these two criteria, marked neuronal damage was observed in CA2 subfield of the hippocampus. In contrast, after transient BCCAO, neuronal damage was consistently produced in the striatum, dependent more on the degree of rCBF reduction than on the plasticity of PcomA. The present study provided simple and highly reproducible criteria to induce the neuronal cell death in the vulnerable mice brain areas including the hippocampus and striatum after transient global forebrain ischemia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.594-601
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• 2002

The current study was carried out to evaluate neuroprotective effects of Citri Pericarpium after transient global ischemia in gerbils. Male Mongolian gerbils weighing 60-80g were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane mixed with 30% oxygen and 70 % nitrogen. Bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 minute with microaneurysm dips. On 3 or 7 days after ischemic surgery, the gerbils were sacrificed. The brain were removed, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 8㎛-thickness. Gerbils that received ischemic insult for 5 min showed extensive neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 region, and the number of viable neuronal cell was 51.0±2.5/mm, 32.2% of normal group at 7 days after ischemic surgery. In animals that underwent the extract of Citri Pericarpium treatment, the number of viable neuronal cell were significantly better preserved at 110.58±3.58/mm, 72.0% of normal group than those of ischemic group (P<0.01). In the immunohistochemistry of Bax and Bcl-2, the Citri Pericarpium treated group down-regulated the expression of Bax protein at 72hr after transient global ischemia. In contrast, Bcl-2 protein level was not changed. The appearance in TUNEL assay is similar to the pattern of Bax protein. The water extract of Citri Pericarpium significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive CA1 pyramidal neurons at 72hr. The results suggest that Citri Pericarpium has potential neuroprotective effects in the transient global ischemia and the increase in the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax may contribute to the anti-apoptotic effect of Citri Pericarpium.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.479-484
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• 1999

In this study, the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on ischemia/reperfusion injury were investigated on isolated heart perfusion model. Hearts were perfused with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit solution (pH 7.4, $37^{\circ}C$) on a Langendroff apparatus. After equilibration, isolated hearts were treated with UDCA 20 to 160 $\mu$M or vehicle (0.04% DMSO) for 10 min before the onset of ischemia. After global ischemia (30 min), ischemic hearts were reperfused and allowed to recover for 30 min. The physiological (i.e. heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure, coronary flow, double product and time to contracture formation) and biochemical (lactate dehydrogenase; LDH) parameters were evaluated. In vehicle-treated group, time to contracture formation was 21.4 min during ischemia, LVDP was 18.5 mmHg at the endpoint or reperfusion and LDH activity in total reperfusion effluent was 54.0 U/L. Cardioprotective effects of UDCA against ischemia/reperfusion consisted of a reduced TTC $(EC_{25}=97.3{\mu}M)$, reduced LDH release and enhanced recovery of cardiac contractile function during reperfusion. Especially, the treatments of UDCA 80 and $160 {\mu}M $ significantly increased LVDP and reduced LDH release. Our findings suggest that UDCA ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial damage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2002

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Huang-lian-jie-du-tang, HRHDT, 黃連解毒湯) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is formulated with Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus. HRHDT is cold (寒) and bitter (苦) in nature and has general properties of clearing heat and detoxifying (淸熱解毒), strengthening the stomach and settling the liver (健胃平肝), and reducing inflammation, fever and swelling. This formula can prevent and treat artherosclerosis, hyperplasia of the endothelium, cerebral fluid circulation, cerebral vascular deterioration through aging, impairment of neurotransmitters, or disruption of the functioning of the cerebral cortex following infection or trauma. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the neuroprotective effect of HRHDT on global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wistar rats. Methods: HRHDT extract was lyophilized after extraction with 85% methanol and 100% water. Rats were induced to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) and reperfused again. HRHDT was administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of 85% methanol extracts and 100 mg/kg of 100% water extracts, respectively, at 0 min and 90 min after 4-VO. Rats were killed at 7 days after ischemia and the number of CA1 pyramidal neurons was counted in hippocampal sections stained with cresyl violet. Results: Body temperature of animals showed no significant difference between saline-treated groups and HRHDT extracts-treated groups until 5 hours of reperfusion. This result indicated that neuroprotective effects of HRHDT extracts were not due to hypothermic effects. The administration of HRHDT showed a significant neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons at 7 days after ischemia compared to the saline-treated group (P<0.001). HRHDT methanol extracts of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and HRHDT water extracts of 100 mg/kg showed 88.5%, 98.3% and 95.1 % neuroprotection, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that administration of HRHDT is highly effective in reducing neuronal damage in response to transient global cerebral ischemia. HRHDT may involve many mechanisms that might account for its high degree of efficacy. A number of factors including free radicals, glutamate, calcium overload, NO, and various cytokines have been proposed to have an important role in causing neuronal death after short periods of global ischemia. Further studies are needed to know the neuroprotective mechanisms of HRHDT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.563-570
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• 1994

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on left ventricular function after cardiac arrest in isolated rat heart.Ischemic preconditioning reduces infarct size caused by sustained ischemia. However, the effects of preconditioning on post ischemic cardiac function are not well-known. The objective of the present study was to determine whether preconditioning would improve the recovery of left ventricular functions after cardiac arrest in isolated rat heart model.Isolated rat hearts were allowed to equilibrate for 20 minutes and were then subjected to either 5 minutes of global, normothermic transient ischemia [Group 2 and 4] or not [Group 3]. A stabilization period of perfusion lasting 5 minutes after the termination of transient ischemia was followed by a standard global, normothermic 20 minute-ischemia and 35-minute reperfusion challenge [Group 3 and 4]. These following results were odtained.1. The recovery of left ventricular developed pressures showed no significant differences between Group 3 and Group 4 at 50 [P>0.3] and 85 minute [P>0.2].2. Heart rates showed no significant differences throughout all the course of experiment and between groups [P>0.5].3. The recovery of left ventricular maximum dP/dt showed no significant differences between Group 3 and Group 4 at 50 [P>0.1] and 85 minute [P>0.2].4. The recovery of pressure-rate products showed no significant differences between Group3 and Group 4 at 50 [P>0.5] and 85 minute [P>0.1].These results suggest that ischemic preconditioning does not provide significant benefit for the postischemic left ventricular functions in isolated rat hearts.