Neuroprotective effects of Kangen-karyu on spatial memory impairment in an 8-arm radial maze and neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region induced by repeated cerebral ischemia in rats.

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of Kangen-karyu (KGK) in a repeated cerebral ischemia model (2 x 10 min, 1-h interval). A 21-day pre- and post-ischemic treatment with KGK (10 - 300 mg/kg) and aspirin (5 mg/kg) improved the spatial memory impairment and neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region induced by repeated cerebral ischemia. However, a 7-day post-ischemic treatment with KGK did not attenuate the spatial memory impairment and neuronal death in this model. To determine the mechanism of action of KGK, we investigated the effects of a 14-day pre-ischemic treatment with KGK on cerebral blood flow in the hippocampal area of the repeated cerebral ischemia model using laser Doppler flowmetry. The 14-day pre-ischemic treatment with KGK increased the cerebral blood flow during reperfusion. These results suggest that a 21-day pre- and post-ischemic treatment with KGK can protect against brain damage caused by cerebral ischemia by increasing the cerebral blood flow in the hippocampal area.

• Authors: Fengling Pu, Kyoko Motohashi, Tomohiro Kaneko, Yurika Tanaka, Naomi Manome, Keiichi Irie, Jirou Takata, Nobuaki Egashira, Ryozo Oishi, Takuya Okamoto, Yasuo Sei, Takako Yokozawa, Kenichi Mishima, Katsunori Iwasaki, Michihiro Fujiwara
• Journal: Journal of pharmacological sciences (J Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 109 Issue 3 Pg. 424-30 (Mar 2009) ISSN: 1347-8613 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 19276616 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Kangen-karyu
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Aspirin

Topics

• Animals
• Aspirin (pharmacology)
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Hippocampus (blood supply, drug effects)
• Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
• Male
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Memory Disorders (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Neuroprotective Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar