Biomedical Research

Objective: To investigate the effect of Wulongdan on the expression of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) in the cerebral cortex and on neuroinflammation after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) in rats.

Methods: A reliable SAH model was established by double injections of blood into cisterna magna in rats. Fifty-four adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220 plus or minus 20 g were divided into three groups by randomized sorting method: Sham, SAH and Wulongdan (n=18 each). The levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA analysis. The expression of P2X7R in the cerebral cortex was tested by immunohistochemical and Western blot methods.

Results: Compared with those in the Sham group, the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the cerebral cortex were significantly up-regulated at each time point after SAH (P<0.05), with the peak occurring at 24 h. Compared with SAH group, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and P2X7R were down-regulated in Wulongdan-treatment group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Wulongdan could attenuate neuroinflammation in the cerebral cortex after SAH in rats, which may be associated with the down-regulation of P2X7R protein.

Author(s): Chuanwu Zhu, Fang Yang, Rongyan Jiang
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