The optimal therapeutic timing and mechanism of puerarin treatment of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to explore the optimal therapeutic timing and mechanism of puerarin treatment of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Materials and methods: The spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and 50 mg/kg of puerarin was injected intraperitoneally at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after the injury. Motor function was measured 48 h after reperfusion started. Thioredoxin expression and apoptosis indices were determined. Results: Improvement of motor function at 1, 2, and 4 h was demonstrated in the animals with puerarin treatment. Ischernia-reperfusion injury resulted in a decrease in the expression of thioredoxin, while puerarin administration elevated the expression of thioredoxin-1 /thioredoxin-2 mRNA. Apoptosis indices were significantly reduced by puerarin administration. Conclusions: We conclude that administration of puerarin within 4 h of spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury reduces ischemic reperfusion damage, and that the neuroprotective effect of puerarin involves an increase in the transcription of thioredoxin and a reduction of apoptosis. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.