Browsing by Subject "Cerebral ischemia"

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    Electroacupuncture ameliorates learning and memory impairment by inhibiting inflammation and promoting synaptic plasticity via inhibition of the NF-KB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in cerebral ischemic rats
    (2026) Guoyuan Pan; Dan Lu1; Mingjin Zhu; Guifen Yang; Chenyi Huang; Yisu Shou; Xiong Jiangnan; Fang Luo; Sun Di; Chuchu Huang; Biología Celular e Histología; Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
    Objective. Electroacupuncture (EA) has a protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury. However, the specific mechanism of action of EA has not been studied. In this study, we investigated whether EA was involved in the treatment of learning and memory impairment in rats with cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury (CIRI) through the NF-KB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Methods. Ninety-five male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 19 rats. A rat model of cerebral ischemia was established using transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) combined with cerebral blood flow monitoring. Intervention treatments consisted of electroacupuncture and lipopolysaccharide (an NF-κB agonist) injection. The behavior, spatial learning, and memory ability of the rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze method. The degree of brain injury in the rats was observed via triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), and Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining. The expression levels of proteins related to the inflammatory response, pyroptosis, and synaptic plasticity were determined via western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Changes in dendrites and spines were observed via Golgi-Cox staining. Results. Compared with those of the tMCAO group, the neural function scores and escape latency of the EA+tMCAO group were reduced. The cerebral infarct volume and the number of denatured neurons decreased. NF-κB, caspase-1, NLRP3, and IL-18 expression levels were significantly decreased. PSD95, SYP, and BDNF expression levels were significantly increased. The total number of dendrite junctions and the total length of dendrites increased. Compared with the EA+tMCAO and NS+EA+tMCAO groups, the escape latency in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+EA+tMCAO group was significantly increased. NF-κB, IL-18, and cleaved caspase-1 expression levels were elevated. Conclusion. EA may inhibit NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway proteins; regulate the neuroinflammatory response; promote the expression of PSD-95, SYN, and BDNF; improve the structure of dendrites and dendritic spines; and alleviate cognitive impairment in rats with CIRI.
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    Therapeutic effects of herbal compounds in cerebral ischemia with special reference to suppression of microglia activation implicated in neurodegeneration
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2019) Jia, Wen Ji; Yuan, Yun; Wu, Chun Yun
    Cerebral ischemia affects many especially with the ageing population. The ensuing ischemic reactions include oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity among others. In the search for effective therapeutic strategies for cerebral ischemia, activated microglia which are the key player in neuroinflammation are now recognized as a potential therapeutic target. Microglia possess both neurotoxic and neuroprotective roles. They are protective by continuously surveilling the microenvironment, phagocytosing dead cells, secreting trophic factors and sculpting the neuronal connections by removing axons and pruning excess synapses. On the other hand, hyperactivated microglia may impair cerebral oxidative metabolism, and produce excessive proinflammatory mediators that may exacerbate the brain damage. In view of this, suppression of microglial activation has been considered a therapeutic strategy to mitigate microglia-based neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia. However, balancing the neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles of activated microglia remains a challenging issue. Many traditional Chinese herbal agents have been used in clinic for treatment of cerebral ischemia. Here, we provide an overview of five common Chinese herbs targeting specifically microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia. It is hoped that a common parallel may be drawn from their beneficial effects especially in the latter pathological conditions for their better and effective use in the future.