| Objective: To study the effect of exercise training and Angelica sinensis injection on the functional recovery, cerebral morphology, microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endotheliar growth factor (VEGF) following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats, and explore the mechanisms.Method:Part 1: Thirty male SD rats with average body weight of 250-270 g were randomly divided into an exercise group (group A, n=10), a control group (group B, n=10) and a sham-operation group (group C, n=10). Rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed reperfusion. After 24 h of reperfusion, the exercise group were trained by running wheel for 30 min daily for 21 d, other groups were without any treatment. Animals were given behavioral test, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2WI) and immunohistochemistry to assess functional outcome, infarct volume, MVD and the expression of VEGF after 12 h and 21 d of reperfusion respectively.Part 2: Sixty-five male Wistar rats with average body weight of 160-180 g were randomly divided into a Angelica sinensis group (group A, n=30), a control group (group B, n=30) and a sham-operation groud (group C, n=5). The model of the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats was performed with the suture occlusion for two hours. The Angelica sinensis group were daily treated with 5 ml Angelica sinensis injection. Animals were given behavioral test to assess functional outcome 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d after ischemia reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry to assess MVD and the expression of VEGF at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d after ischemia reperfusion respectively.Result:Part 1: (1) Behavioral test showed there was improvement in the score of the exercise group compared with the control (P<0.05) after 21 d of reperfusion, however, there was no difference in the score between the exercise group and the control group following 12 h ofreperfusion (P>0.05). (2) The infarct size was not different in both the exercise group and the control after 12 h (P>0.05). Compared to the control group, the exercise groups had significant smaller infarct volume following 21 d (PO.05). (3) After 12 h, the mean value of microvessel density (MVD) marked with Laminin was no difference among the exercise group, the control group and the sham-operation group (P>0.05). After 21 d, the mean value of MVD markely increased in the exercise group and the control, however, the exercise groups was highter than the controls, the difference between them was significant (PO.05). The charrge of MCV showed a positive relationship with the change of behavioral test (r= 0.851, P=0.002). (4) After 21 d, the expression of VEGF was higher in the exercise group than the control (PO.05). However, there was no difference between the exercise group and the control group in VEGF immunostraining after 12 h of reperfusion (P>0.05). The change of VEGF expression showed a positive relationship with the change of behavioral test (r=0.793, P=0.006).Part 2: (1) Behavioral test demonstrated there was improvement in the score of the Angelica sinensis group compared with the control (PO.05) after 1 d of reperfusion. (2) Immunohistochemistry staining showed, Except the time point 3 h, the expression of VEGF in the angelica sinensis group was higher than the other groups, the difference among them was significant (PO.05). The mean value of microvessel density (MVD) marked with Laminin in the Angelica sinensis group at 3 d and 7 d is higher than the control group or the sham-operation group (PO.05). The change of MCV showed a positive relationship with the change of behavioral test (r=0.676, PO.032).Conclusion: The exercise training and Angelica sinensis injection can improve functional recovery after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats, the function enhancement may be partially contributed to the upregulation of VEGF and angiogenesis. |
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