Objective:In order to investigate the mechanism of hippocampal neuronal damage and the protec-tive effect of
salvia miltiorrhiza
on the neuronal damage after focal cerebral contusion of rats.Metkods:tis-sue
adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase) activity <μmol Pi/(mg protein·h)>,contents(μmol/g dry brain tis-sue)of Na+,K+, Ca2+ and histopathological changes in the CA-1 region of hippocampus were determined in the present study.Results:After brain injury, there was a significant decrease of ATPase activity (Na+-K+-ATPase 0.425±0.066,Ca2+-ATPase 0.419±0.020vs Na+-K+-ATPase0.635±0.043,Ca2+-ATPase 0.527±0.017 in control group,P<0.01),and a remarkable increase of Na+, Ca2+ contents (Na+ 215.74±24.30,Ca2+ 4.59±0.25 vs Na+ 142.25±11.39,Ca2+3.73±0.38 in control group,P<0.01)in the hip-pocampus.In the
salvia miltiorrhiza treated group,tbe inhibition of ATPase activity (Na+-K+-ATPase 0.593±0.027,Ca2+-ATPase 0.468±0.040)and the increase of Na+, Ca2+(Na +181.72±19.62,ca2+4.08 ±0.38)in hippocampus (CA-1)were significantly lower than those in the untreated group (P < 0.01).In addition,the neuronal damage observed under electron microscope was also ameliorated substantially.Con-clusions:The results suggest that salvia miltiorrhiza may provide therapeutic protection in arresting neuronal damage in the CA-1 region of hippocampus following brain injury by way of improving ATPase activity and relieving Na+,Ca2+ accumulations.