AIM: To observe the effect of puerarin on levels of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), endothelin
(ET) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in rabbits with cerebral
ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS: ①The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between March and September 2004. Twenty-four healthy rabbits were randomly divided into sham operation group(group A, n=8), ischemia-reperfusion group (group B, n=8) and puerarin group (group P, n=8). ②Arteria carotis interna, bilateral external, internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries in three groups were clipped according to the "six blood vessels" model. Thirty minutes after cerebral ischemia, rabbits in the group B and group P were treated with reperfusion for 4 hours. Rabbits in group P received intravenous injection of puerarin (5 mg/kg) before the artery was occluded, then intravenously injected by micro pump 150 μg/(kg·min) till the end of experiment following the occlusion of above six arteries. Rabbits in the group B received no administration.③The levels of plasma MDA and SOD were determined chromatometry, the levels of ET and CGRP were determined with radioimmunological assay (RIA) 15 minutes before occlusion and 4 hours after reperfusion.④Differences of measurement data among groups were compared with analysis of variance.RESULTS: A total of 24 rabbits were involved in the analysis of results.①Level of plasma MDA 4 hours after reperfusion: It was
significantly higher in group B than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01), and it was significantly higher in group B and group P than 15 minutes before ischemia (P < 0.01).②Level of SOD 4 hours after reperfusion: It was significantly lower in group B than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01), and it was obviously lower in group B and group P than 15 minutes before ischemia (P < 0.01). ③Level of plasma ET 4 hours after reperfusion: It was significantly higher in group B than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01), and it was obviously higher in group B than 15 minutes before ischemia (P < 0.05).④Level of CGRP 4 hours after reperfusion: It was significantly lower in group B than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01), and it was obviously lower in group B than 15 minutes before ischemia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Puerarin can reduce the content of plasma MDA and ET, increase the activity of SOD, promote the release of CGRP as well as lessen the cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury.