Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction Combined with Edaravone on the Apoptosis of Neuron and Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax Following Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion in Mice

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHWD) combined with edaravone(ED) on the apoptosis of neuron and expression of apoptosis related proteins following cerebral ischemia reperfusion in mice. METHODS Sixty mice were randomly divided into sham group, I/R group, BYHWD group, ED group, BYHWD+ED group. Each group were further randomly divided into 1 d and 7 d group. The middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion model was established by the improved intraluminal filament technique in mice. TUNEL method was used to evaluate the apoptosis of neuron; Western bolt method was used to detect the quantitative expression of bcl-2 and bax protein. RESULTS Compared with other groups, the BYHWD+ED group significantly reduced the neuronal apoptosis index (P<0.01), the quantitative expression of bcl-2 protein in BYHWD+ED group were more increased, while the quantitative expression of bax protein in BYHWD+ED group were more reduced(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of BYHWD and ED can decrease the expression of bax, and increase bcl-2 expression to inhibit the nerve cell apoptosis and quicken the recovery of neural function, suggesting that the two agents play synergistic roles in protecting the brain from cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury.