Effects Of Apigenin On Expressions Of TLR4/NF-κB And Nerv Protection In Rats With Focal Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

AIM:To investigate the neuroprotective effect of apigenin by affecting the expressions of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) and neuron apoptosis in rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:Focal cerebral ischemia model in rats was established by inserting a thread into internal carotid artery for 90 min and then reperfusing for 24 h. Seventy male adult SD rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, apigenin 10 mg·kg-1 group, apigenin 25 mg·kg-1 group, and nimodipine positive control group. The effects of apigenin on neurological deficit scores and infarction volume of brain were detected. HE stain was used to observe the pathological changes. The expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in hippocampus and cortical ischemic core was estimated by imunohistochemistry. The change of ultrastru-cture of hippocampal neurons was observed by transmission electron. TNF-a and IL-6 in serum were measured by ELISA kits and the apoptotic cells were counted by TUNELRESULTS:Compared with the model group, apigenin significantly ameliorated the neurological scores, reduced the infarction volume as well as the pathological changes. In addition, apigenin could decrease the number of apoptotic cells, reduce the content of TNF-a,IL-6 in serum and TLR4, NF-κB in brain (P<0.05, P<0.01)CONCLUSION:Apigenin has neuroprotective effects on focal ischemic brain and can decrease apoptosis of nerve cells. The effects might be attributed to the decrease of TLR4, NF-κB content in brain.