Effects of ginkgo biloba extract injection(金纳多注射液) on the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA and protein in rats after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Objective: To study the effects of ginkgo biloba extract(GBE) injection(金纳多注射液) on the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein and mRNA after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R).Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,I/R group,small-dose GBE treatment group and high-dose GBE treatment group(each n=10).The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) were established by using the intraluminal suture occlusion method,neuronal apoptosis were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) staining,the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protein were detected by immunohistochemical method,the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method.Results: The number of apoptotic cells,the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA and protein in I/R group,small-dose GBE treatment group and high-dose GBE treatment group were significantly higher than those of sham operation group(all P0.01).The number of apoptotic neurons,the expression of caspase-3 and caspase9 mRNA and protein in small-dose GBE treatment group and highdose GBE treatment group were significantly less than those of I/R group(all P0.01).The number of apoptotic neurons,the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA and protein in highdose GBE treatment group were less than those of small-dose GBE treatment group(all P0.05).Conclusion: GBE injection can significantly decrease neuronal apoptosis,inhibit the expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA and protein following cerebral I/R,and the effect of GBE is correlated with dose.