Reports show that, while the mechanism remains unknown,
salvianolate lyophilized injection (SLI) improves functional recovery after
stroke in diabetic rats. In this study, we investigated the mechanism and effect of SLI on
stroke outcome in type 1 diabetic (T1DM) rats. T1DM were induced in adult male Wistar rats by injecting
streptozotocin. T1DM rats were then subjected to 90 minutes of
middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). SLI (10.5, 21, 42 mg/kg, respectively) was administered by tail vein injection at 24 hours after MCAO, and dayly and last for 14 days. The neurological deficit score and
brain infarct volume were assessed after 14 days. Also,
VEGF,
BDNF, TrkB, CREB and p-CREB levels in the ischemic brain tissue were analyzed with western blot at 14 days after MCAO. SLI significantly reduced neurological deficit scores and
cerebral infarct volume, and reduced lesion volumes at all time points. SLI also increased the expression of
VEGF,
BDNF, TrkB, CREB and p-
CREB protein levels in T1DM-MCAO rats. In summary, our results demonstrate that SLI can improve functional recovery after
stroke in diabetic rats, and the mechanism of treating cerebral ischemic injury is related to the activation of the
VEGF,
BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling pathway.