A role for IGF-1 in the rescue of CNS neurons following hypoxic-ischemic injury

Three days after unilateral hypoxic-ischemic injury in infant rats insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) production by astrocytes was enhanced in the injured region. This was associated with increased expression of mRNA for IGF binding protein-3 but not for binding protein-1. In adult rats a single lateral cerebroventricular injection of IGF-1 two hours following a similar injury markedly reduced neuronal loss. It is suggested that endogenous IGF-1 is neurotrophic and that centrally administered IGF-1 may have therapeutic potential for brain injury.

[The influence of Chinese Agkistrodon acutus enzyme (CAAE) on the functions of washed human platelets]

The effects of the activation and influence of CAAE on washed human platelets were investigated. Our findings were: (1) CAAE could induce aggregation and alpha-granule release reaction in the washed human platelet suspension; thus it could activate the platelets; (2) the aggregation effect of CAAE was inhibited by albumin and affected by Ca2+, Mg2+ concentration; (3) heparin and/or AT III did not inhibit the aggregation activation of CAAE, but alpha 2MG markedly inhibited it; (4) the aggregation activity of CAAE was associated with the serine protease activity. The mechanism of CAAE-induced aggregation mainly follows the prostaglandins-endoperoxides thromboxane A2 pathway.

[A processing study of herba Cistanches]

The synthetic rate of DNA in the liver and spleen and metallic microelements have been determined for the different preparations of Herba Cistanches. The results show that the salted Herba Cistanches in steamed from affects the synthetic rate of DNA in "Yang-Deficiency" animal models, with trace elements Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe higher in content than other traditional preparations.