Effect of estrogen and/or progesterone administration on traumatic brain injury-caused brain edema: the changes of aquaporin-4 and interleukin-6

Abstract Background Brain edema is one of the major causes of fatality and disability associated with injury and neurosurgical procedures. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of ulinastatin (UTI), a protease inhibitor, on astrocytes in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methodology A rat model of TBI was established. Animals were randomly divided into 2 groups – one group was treated with normal saline and the second group was treated with UTI (50,000 U/kg). The brain water content and permeability of the blood–brain barrier were assessed in the two groups along with a sham group (no TBI). Expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein, endthelin-1 (ET-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were measured by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Effect of UTI on ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways was measured by western blot. Results UTI significantly decreased the brain water content and extravasation of the Evans blue dye. This attenuation was associated with decreased activation of the astrocytes and ET-1. UTI treatment decreased ERK and Akt activation and inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory VEGF and MMP-9. Conclusion UTI can alleviate brain edema resulting from TBI by inhibiting astrocyte activation and ET-1 production.

Download Full-text

Shenfu injection improves cerebral microcirculation and reduces brain injury in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock; SFI reduces brain injury after hemorrhagic shock

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-211100 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Junyuan Wu ◽

Zhiwei Li ◽

Wei Yuan ◽

Qiang Zhang ◽

Yong Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Hemorrhagic Shock ◽

Interleukin 6 ◽

Aquaporin 4 ◽

Flow Index ◽

Sham Operation ◽

Volume Resuscitation ◽

Cerebral Microcirculation ◽

Shenfu Injection ◽

Tnf Α

BACKGROUND: Shenfu injection (SFI) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine which has been clinically used for treatment of septic shock and cardiac shock. The aim of this study was to clarify effects of SFI on cerebral microcirculation and brain injury after hemorrhagic shock (HS). METHODS: Twenty-one domestic male Beijing Landrace pigs were randomly divided into three groups: SFI group (SFI, n = 8), saline group (SA, n = 8) or sham operation group (SO, n = 5). In the SFI group, animals were induced to HS by rapid bleeding to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg within 10 minutes and maintained at 40±3 mmHg for 60 minutes. Volume resuscitation (shed blood and crystalloid) and SFI were given after 1 hour of HS. In the SA group, animals received the same dose of saline instead of SFI. In the SO group, the same surgical procedure was performed but without inducing HS and volume resuscitation. The cerebral microvascular flow index (MFI), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, aquaporin-4 expression, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and ultrastructural of microvascular endothelia were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the SA group, SFI significantly improved cerebral MFI after HS. SFI up regulated cerebral endothelial NOS expression, but down regulated interleukin-6, TNF-α, inducible NOS and aquaporin-4 expression compared with the SA group. The cerebral microvascular endothelial injury and interstitial edema in the SFI group were lighter than those in the SA group. CONCLUSIONS: Combined application of SFI with volume resuscitation after HS can improve cerebral microcirculation and reduce brain injury.

Download Full-text