Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (36): 2882-2888.

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Influence of Tanshinone IIa on heat shock protein 70, Bcl-2 and Bax expression in rats with spinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Li Zhang, Weidong Gan, Guoyao An   

  1. School of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian Province, China
  • Received:2012-03-28 Revised:2012-03-28 Online:2012-12-25 Published:2012-12-25
  • Contact: Zhang, School of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian Province,China Zhanglil626@163.com
  • About author:Li Zhang☆, M.D., Professor,Doctoral supervisor, School of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian Province,China

Abstract:

Tanshinone IIa is an effective monomer component of Danshen, which is a traditional Chinese medicine for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. Tanshinone IIa can effectively improve brain tissue ischemia/hypoxia injury. The present study established a rat model of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and intraperitoneally injected Tanshinone IIa, 0.5 hour prior to model establishment. Results showed that Tanshinone IIa promoted heat shock protein 70 and Bcl-2 protein expression, but inhibited Bax protein expression in the injured spinal cord after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Furthermore, Nissl staining indicated a reduction in nerve cell apoptosis and fewer pathological lesions in the presence of Tanshinone IIa, compared with positive control Danshen injection.

Key words: Tanshinone IIa, Danshen, spinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, heat shock protein 70, Bcl-2, Bax, cell apoptosis, Chinese medicine, neural regeneration