Protective effects of gypenosides on focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of gypenosides and nimodipine on focal brain ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: The NO Levels of cerebral subcellular organ and histological examination were measured with a model of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) without craniectomy in rats. RESULTS: It was found that the level of NO was increased and the number of living pyramidal cells in CA₁ region of hippocampus were decreased and the number of living pyramidal cells in CA₁ region of hippocampus were decreased significantly in ischemia-reperfusion group compared with Sham. No level was decreased and the number of living pyramidal cells in CA₁ region of hippocampus was increased significantly in gypenosides-treated groups and nimodipine-treated group compared with ischemia-reperfusion group. CONCLUSION: The result suggested that the decrease of NO production by gypenosides and nimodipine may play a role in the amelioration of focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.