The Effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won on Reperfusion Following Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats

우황청심원이 중대뇌동맥 결찰로 유발된 뇌허혈에 미치는 영향

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won on reperfusion following MCA occlusion in rats. Methods : To evaluate the effect of Woohwangcheongsim-won on reperfusion following MCA occlusion, the volume of cerebral ischemia and edema were measured and the change of the CAI pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus was investigated by light microscopy. And the changes of several neurotransmitters and enzymes were investigated with the immunohistochemical methods. Results : 1. The volume of the control group, which was ischemic-damaged was 23.6%, and that of the sample group was 13.5%. 2. The voluminalratio of the right/left hemisphere was 116 in the control group, and that of the sample group was 107. 3. The pyramidal cells of CAI area in the control group were greatly damaged. The cells were changed into discontinuous and unsystematic forms, and nuclei, and cytoplasms were shrunk. On the other hand, the cells of the sample group were less damaged. 4. On the immunohistochemical methods, the sensitivities of GABA, NOS, DBH in the control group were increased, and those of synapsin and $eEF-l{\alpha}$ were decreased as compared with the normal group. NOS and DBH which were negative in the normal group showed positive reaction. On the other hand, the sensitivities of GABA, NOS and DBH in the sample group were decreased, but those of NPY, synapsin, CaMKII and $eEF-l{\alpha}$ were increased as compared with the control group. Conclusions : Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the volume of cerebral ischemia and edema, and minimized the damage of pyramidal cells. The mechanism was related to protein synthesis, such as synapsin, ${\alpha}CaMKII$ and $eEF-l{\alpha}$, which resist neurotoxicity of glutamate receptors.