Edaravone Enhances the Viability of Ischemia/reperfusion Flaps

The purpose of the experiment was to study the efficacy of edaravone in enhancing flap viability after ischemia/reperfusion（IR） and its mechanism. Forty-eight adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups： control group（n=16）, IR group（n=16）, and edaravone-treated IR group（n=16）. An island flap at left lower abdomen（6.0 cm×3.0 cm in size）, fed by the superficial epigastric artery and vein, was created in each rat of all the three groups. The arterial blood flow of flaps in IR group and edaravone-treated IR group was blocked for 10 h, and then the blood perfusion was restored. From 15 min before reperfusion, rats in the edaravone-treated IR group were intraperitoneally injected with edaravone（10 mg/kg）, once every 12 h, for 3 days. Rats in the IR group and control group were intraperitoneally injected with saline, with the same method and frequency as the rats in the edaravone-treated IR group. In IR group and edaravone-treated IR group, samples of flaps were harvested after reperfusion of the flaps for 24 h. In the control group, samples of flaps were harvested 34 h after creation of the flaps. The content of malondialdehyde（MDA） and activity of superoxide dismutase（SOD） were determined, and changes in organizational structure and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining, apoptotic cells of vascular wall were marked by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick-end labeling（TUNEL） assay, and the apoptotic rate of cells in vascular wall was calculated. The ultrastructural changes of vascular endothelial cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）. Seven days after the operation, we calculated the flap viability of each group, and marked vessels of flaps by immunohistochemical staining for calculating the average number of subcutaneous vessels. The results showed that the content of MDA, the number of multicore inflammatory cells and apoptotic rate of cells in vascular wall in the edaravone-treated IR group were significantly lower than those in the IR group. The activity of SOD, flap viability and average number of subcutaneous vessels in the edaravone-treated IR group were significantly higher than those in the IR group. All the differences were statistically significant. The ultrastructure injury of vascular endothelial cells in the edaravone-treated IR group was slighter than that in IR group. It was concluded that edaravone can significantly enhance IR flap viability and protect flap vessels, which is related to scavenging oxygen free radicals, reducing the consumption of SOD, reducing the extent of lipid peroxidation and inflammation, and protecting functional structure of vessels in the early stages of reperfusion.

The Protective Effect of EGB761 on Vessels of Denervated Gastrocnemius in Rats and Its Mechanism

This study investigated the protective effect of EGB761 on blood vessels of denervated gastrocnemius of rat and its possible mechanism. Fifteen male adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups： normal control group （n=3）, control group （n=6） and EGB761-treated group （n=6）. The rats in the control and EGB761-treated group underwent a neurotomy to bilateral sciatic nerves. Then, they were administered EGB761 [100 mg/（kg.d）] and isovolumic normal saline, respectively by gavage everyday. No treatment was given to the rats in the normal control group. Gastrocnemius was harvested at 1 and 3 week（s） postoperatively in each group. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the ratio of capillary/fiber （CFR） of denervated gastrocnemius and the expression of VEGF, fetal liver kinase -l（Flk-1） receptor and HSP70 in the vascular wall. The results showed that in the normal control group, VEGF, Flk-1 and HSP70 were expressed in the vessel wall of gastrocnemius, with Flk-1 expressed only in the endothelial cell of vessels. CFR in the EGB761-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 1 week and 3 week（s） after neurotomy. The expression of VEGF and Flk-1 in the vessel wall of both control and EGB761-treated group was much lower than that in the normal control group, and the expression of these proteins in the EGB761-treated group was decreased as compared with that in the control group. The expression of HSP70 in the vessel wall of both control and EGB761-treated groups was enhanced when compared with that in the normal control group, and it was substantially augmented in the EGB761-treated group in comparison to the control group. It was concluded that EGB761 has a protective effect on blood vessels of denervated gastrocnemius, which is related to the increased HSP70 expression but not the expression of VEGF and its receptor Flk-1.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with Sox2 increase the functional recovery in rat with traumatic brain injury

Background:About 10 million individuals suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year in the world,which is one of the most serious neurological disorders.The morbidity of TBl is 55.5~6.1/100,000 in China,which takes more costing in the therapy,and the outcome of that is not well.Therefore,we expect to find new methods to treat TBI and improve the outcomes of TBI.In the previous studies reviewed,we found that stem cell transplantation may hold promising potential for modifying motor dysfunction induced by TBI.Methods:Twenty-six adult SD rats were involved in our study.Two adult SD rats were used as donors of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs),and the other adult SD rats were divided into four groups randomly,which were used to establish the TBI models.BMSCs were transduced with lentivirous-Sox2,and we try to examine the effects of Sox2 on the differentiation of BMSCs.Establishment of rat TBI model:Rats were anesthetized using pentobarbital sodium (at a concentration of 1.5% and a dose of 40 mg/kg) and fixed under the stereotaxic device.A 1.0-cm craniotomy was performed lateral to the sagittal suture.The skullcap was carefully removed,and rats were then subjected to TBI using a controlled cortical injury instrument.A standardized parietal contusion was performed using a 20-mg steel rod with a diameter of 4 mm,which dropped from a height of 30 cm.After injury,the incision was sutured,and rats were carefully observed and nursed.Treatments:Seven days after TBI,rats were divided into four groups and were transplanted with BMSC-Sox2,single BMSC,single Lentivirus-Sox2,and PBS into injured brain,respectively.The motor function was tested using the neurological severity score (NSS).Results:We found that the ectopic expression of Sox2 enhanced BMSCs to differentiate into neurons.Seven days after TBI,the rats were treated with BMSC-Sox2,BMSC,Sox2,and PBS.Results showed that NSS were 3.352 ± 0.398 in the BMSC-Sox2 group,4.013 ± 0.495 in the BMSC group,4.968 ± 0.293 in the Sox2 group,and 6.257 ± 0.361 in the PBS group,suggesting that there were obvious improvements in the neurological function in BMSC-Sox2,BMSC,and Sox2 groups.In addition,the BMSC-Sox2 group had the lowest scores,p < 0.05.Conclusion:The ectopic expression of Sox2 could enhance BMSCs to differentiate into neurons,and intervention of BMSCs combined with Sox2 transplantation could promote recovery of motor function in rats with TBI.