Point application with Angong Niuhuang sticker protects hippocampal and cortical neurons in rats with cerebral ischemia

• Main Authors: Dong-shu Zhang, Yuan-liang Liu, Dao-qi Zhu, Xiao-jing Huang, Chao-hua Luo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Neural Regeneration Research
• Subjects: Alzheimer′s disease; amyloid-β; astrocytes; Ca 2+; calcilytic; calcium-sensing receptor; nitromemantine; NPS 2143; α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; nerve regeneration; spinal cord injury; surgical decompression; tumor necrosis factor α; cell apoptosis; neurological function; neural regeneration; contusion; Nogo-A; axon growth; immunohistochemistry; fluorescent quantitative PCR; Schwann cells; cell transplantation; edaravone; motor function; electrophysiological function; electroacupuncture; intervertebral disc; blood circulation; inflammation; neuroprotection; neurons; NSFC grants; astrocytoma; mice; immunodeficiency (BALB/c) mice; Notch; nestin; glial fibrillary acidic protein; CD133; spinal cord; brain; MRI; earthquake; peripheral nerve injury; LSUHSC score; compartment syndrome; surgery therapy; physiotherapy; nerve decompression; brachial plexus injury; human amniotic epithelial cells; forepaw function; stress relaxation; creep; viscoelasticity; injection injury; cyclosporine A; penicillin G potassium; Wallerian degeneration; neuroelectrophysiology; Oenanthe javanica extract; cell proliferation; neuroblast differentiation; brain-derived neurotrophic factor; vascular endothelial growth factor; rat; middle cerebral artery occlusion; brain injury; oligodendrocytes; neural progenitor cells; proliferation; differentiation; neurogenesis; cerebral ischemia; point application; Angong Niuhuang sticker; neurological functions; acupuncture; traditional Chinese medicine
• Online Access: http://www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2015;volume=10;issue=2;spage=286;epage=291;aulast=Zhang

Angong Niuhuang pill, a Chinese materia medica preparation, can improve neurological functions after acute ischemic stroke. Because of its inconvenient application and toxic components (Cinnabaris and Realgar), we used transdermal enhancers to deliver Angong Niuhuang pill by modern technology, which expanded the safe dose range and clinical indications. In this study, Angong Niuhuang stickers administered at different point application doses (1.35, 2.7, and 5.4 g/kg) were administered to the Dazhui (DU14), Qihai (RN6) and Mingmen (DU4) of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, for 4 weeks. The Morris water maze was used to determine the learning and memory ability of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to observe neuronal damage of the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia. The middle- and high-dose point application of Angong Niuhuang stickers attenuated neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region, and improved the memory of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia with an efficacy similar to interventions by electroacupuncture at Dazhui (DU14), Qihai (RN6) and Mingmen (DU4). Our experimental findings indicate that point application with Angong Niuhuang stickers can improve cognitive function after chronic cerebral ischemia in rats and is neuroprotective with an equivalent efficacy to acupuncture.