p130Cas regulates the activity of AND-34, a novel Ral, Rap1, and R-Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor

We previously identified a novel murine protein, AND-34, with a carboxyl-terminal domain homologous to Ras family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), which bound to the focal adhesion docking protein p130(Cas). Work by others has implicated both the human homologue of AND-34, BCAR3, and human p130(Cas), BCAR1, in the resistance of breast cancer cells to the anti-estrogen tamoxifen. Here we report that AND-34 displays GEF activity on RalA, Rap1A, and R-Ras but not Ha-Ras GTPases in cells. In contrast to several other Ral-GEFs, the Ral GEF activity of AND-34 is not augmented by constitutively active Ha-Ras(Val-12), consistent with the absence of a detectable Ras-binding domain. Efficient binding to AND-34 required both the Src-binding domain and a flanking carboxyl-terminal region of p130(Cas). The p130(Cas)-binding site mapped to a carboxyl-terminal sequence within the AND-34 GEF domain. Overexpression of p130(Cas), but not an AND-34-binding mutant of p130(Cas), inhibited the Ral GEF activity of co-transfected AND-34. This work identifies a new potential function for p130(Cas) and a new regulatory pathway involved in the control of Ral, Rap, and R-Ras GTPases that may participate in the progression of breast cancer cells to tamoxifen resistance.

[Protective effect of Ginaton on rat liver microcirculation disturbance following liver xenotransplantation]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Ginaton on liver microcirculation disturbance following liver xenotransplantation in rats.

METHODS

Ginaton was injected intravenously to recipients at a dosage of 14 mg/kg before graftng liver of guinea pigs. The portal blood flow (PBF) was measured by Doppler ultrasound at 0, 30 and 60 minutes after transplantation, and the pathologic changes of liver and heart were observed.

RESULTS

The reperfusion status of control group was poor and leukocyte infiltration appeared in the center of lobute following transplantation and myocardial cells were impaired. Significant reduction in PBF was found in rats following transplantation. Ginaton pretreatment distinctly ameliorated PBF. The speed of PBF was closely correlated with the pathologic changes following transplantation.

CONCLUSION

In the process of liver transplantation, ischemia reperfusion damage may lead to xenoheptic microcirculaton disturbance. Ginaton could improve the xenoheptic microcirculation and reduce ischemic reperfusion damage.

Experimental study of the effect of external counterpulsation on blood circulation in the lower extremities

A bidirectional ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter with direct single sideband separation was used to measure blood flow in the femoral and dorsalis pedis arteries of 18 normal volunteers. Changes in blood-flow velocity and volume during external counterpulsation (ECP) with various sustaining times (the time for maintaining pressure) for inflation were studied. The results showed that blood-flow velocity in the femoral and dorsalis pedis arteries is increased significantly by ECP, but the change is not closely related to the duration of inflation. For a short sustaining time, the net forward blood-flow volume in arteries increased remarkably, but at longer sustaining times it dropped back significantly to a value even lower than that before ECP. The sustaining time for inflation to produce the maximum net forward flow volume (the optimal sustaining time of inflation) was found to be at one-quarter to one-third of the cardiac cycle. In a second study, changes in the calibre of the femoral artery and its collateral and anastomotic branches in the hind extremities in 5 dogs before and after ECP with an optimal sustaining time of inflation were examined by femoral arteriography. The experiments showed that the patency of collateral and anastomotic branches of the femoral artery was greater before than after ECP. The study suggests that ECP could be an effective treatment for improving the blood circulation in extremities.

Heroin abuse and nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation, lipoperoxidation

To further reveal the risks of heroin abuse to human body, and to determine the injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers, we determined and compared plasma values of lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), beta-carotene (beta-CAR) and erythrocyte values of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in 114 heroin abusers and 100 healthy volunteers. Using linear regression and correlation as well as stepwise regression and correlation, we also analyzed the effect of the abusing duration, and daily abusing quantity on the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in the heroin abusers. The results showed that, compared with the healthy volunteer groups, the average plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the average erythrocyte value of LPO in the heroin abuser group were significantly increased (P < 0.0001), and the average plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the average erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with prolonged heroin abusing and with increased daily quantity in the heroin abusers, the plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the erythrocyte value of LPO were gradually increased (P < 0.001), whereas the plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P < 0.001). Analysis of stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the plasma values of NO, VC and VE were closely correlated with the abusing duration and daily abusing quantity. These results indicate that the balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the heroin abusers was seriously disturbed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, through oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation to the bodies of heroin abusers exacerbated. It is therefore necessary that in abstaining from heroin dependence, the heroin abusers should acquire sufficient quantities of antioxidants such as VC, VE and beta-CAR.

Association analysis of variants in the core promoter region of angiotensinogen gene with essential hypertension in Tibetan population

OBJECTIVE

To detect the variants in the core promoter region of angiotensinogen(AGT) gene, and to analyse the relationship between the AGT gene polymorphisms and essential hypertension in Tibetan population.

METHODS

This is a case-control study consisting of 103 essential hypertensive subjects and 82 normotensive controls matched by age and sex. The variants in the AGT gene core promoter region were screened by polymerase chain reaction/single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR/SSCP) and further identified by automated sequencing. The A(-6)G polymorphism was determined in DNA extracted from leucocytes by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP).

RESULTS

(1) There were two different electrophoresis band patterns in PCR/SSCP analysis. PCR product direct sequencing showed that the two band patterns represented the AA, AC genotypes in the (-20) site of AGT gene respectively. The distribution of A(-20)C genotype was almost identical in essential hypertensive and normotensive groups (P>0.8). The A allele frequency was very high in both groups (control: 0.9175, hypertensive: 0.9124). (2)Distribution of genotype in the (-6) site of AGT gene was much different between the patient group and control group (P<0.005). The frequency of G allele was statistically higher in the patient group than in controls (0.374 vs 0.220, P<0.025).

CONCLUSION

Both Tibetan hypertensives and normotensives have higher frequency of A allele in AGT gene (-20) site. The higher frequency of G allele in the AGT gene (-6) site in Tibetan hypertension patients suggests that this allele may be the genetic susceptibility factor in the proceeding of essential hypertension in the Tibetan population.

Effect of thyroid hormone deficiency on developmental expression of goalpha gene in the brain of neonatal rats by competitive RT-PCR and in situ hybridization histochemistry

Goalpha is a guanine nucloetide-binding regulatory protein alpha subunit which is mainly distributed in the central nervous system, but it has not previously been reported how it is regulated by thyroid hormone in the brain of neonatal rat at transcriptional levels. In this report, we used quantitative competitive reverse transcriptional PCR to quantify the effects of TH deficiency on Goalpha gene expression in the brain of neonatal rat at mRNA levels. It was found that Goalpha mRNA levels in the brain of 14-day-old rats significantly increased over 3-fold after induction of perinatal hypothyroidism, and declined markedly after treatment of thyroxine replacement. In situ hybridization histochemistry was further employed to observe the time-course and spatial expression of Goalpha gene in the brain of neonatal rats affected by thyroid hormone deficiency during the developmental period. The data showed that perinatal hypothyroidism can enhance Goalpha mRNA levels in the temporal cortex, sensorimotor cortex, piriform cortex, amygdala, hippocampal CA1-4 subfields, dentate gyrus, arcuate nucleus (AR) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) of hypothalamus, but not in the striate cortex, cingulate cortex, claustrum, caudate/putamen and thalamus in the brain of rat at 7-21 days post-partum. The results suggest that up-regulation of Goalpha gene expression may be one kind of common mechanism responsible for neurological deficits in some brain areas arising from thyroid hormone deficiency in the critical periods of neonatal rats.

Modeling splice sites with Bayes networks

MOTIVATION

The main goal in this paper is to develop accurate probabilistic models for important functional regions in DNA sequences (e.g. splice junctions that signal the beginning and end of transcription in human DNA). These methods can subsequently be utilized to improve the performance of gene-finding systems. The models built here attempt to model long-distance dependencies between non-adjacent bases.

RESULTS

An efficient modeling method is described which models biological data more accurately than a first-order Markov model without increasing the number of parameters. Intuitively, a small number of parameters helps a learning system to avoid overfitting. Several experiments with the model are presented, which show a small improvement in the average accuracy as compared with a simple Markov model. These experiments suggest that single long distance dependencies do not help the recognition problem, thus confirming several previous studies which have used more heuristic modeling techniques.

AVAILABILITY

This software is available for downloaded and as a web resource at http://www.ai.uic.edu/software

CONTACT

kasif@eecs.uic.edu

Glial inhibition of nerve regeneration in the mature mammalian CNS

The lack of axonal regeneration in the adult mammalian CNS is due to both unfavorable environmental glial factors and the intrinsic neuronal state. Inhibitors associated with myelin and the glial scar have been extensively studies and it has been shown that neutralizing at least some of the inhibitors can lead to improved growth. Meanwhile, important advances have also been made towards our understanding of the neuronal intrinsic state, particularly the intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotide, that influence the capacity of mature CNS neurons to initiate and maintain a regrowth response. It is well recognized that successful regeneration may only be achieved by application of a combination of strategies that both block glial inhibitors and enhance the intrinsic neuronal growth capacity.

Two novel myogenic factors identified and isolated by sequential isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A number of environmental factors were used experimentally to enhance myogenesis during muscle regeneration; however, many hormones and growth factors have been shown to have the ability to increase the rate of satellite cell division, but they only work on satellite cells that are already active in many animal experiments. Recently, the crushed muscle extract (CME) of rats was found to be able to trigger dormant adult rat satellite cells to re-enter the cell mytogenic cycle; however, the identity of the active factors present in rat CME remains unknown. In the present study, the CME was fractionated by the strategy of sequential isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) coupled with functional analysis by myoblast culture. Two satellite cell-specific myogenic factors were identified and purified from CME by this strategy. One of the factors has a molecular mass of around 7 kDa and another about 39 kDa. The factor of 39 kDa could be retained in heparin-Sepharose column and eluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 1 M NaCl, but the 7 kDa factor did not bind to the heparin column. These two purified myogenic factors could synergistically trigger the proliferation and differentiation of dormant satellite cells, whose progenies subsequently fuse in vitro, or fuse to pre-existing partially damaged muscle fibers to form full repair of the damaged muscle fibers or to form new myotubes to replace the completely damaged muscle fibers during the cascade of muscle healing and regeneration in vivo. The identities of these two myogenic factors are under study.

Age-related changes of aqueous protein profiles in rat fast and slow twitch skeletal muscles

Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to generate the aqueous protein expression patterns of rat extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL, fast twitch muscle) and solues muscle (SOL, slow twitch muscle) of different ages. Two specific protein spots, S1 and S3, were identified from EDL muscles at the ages of 12 and 18 months onward respectively. In the EDL muscles of aged rat (24 months) after intensive exercise training, S3 was still detected while S1 disappeared. In addition, diaphragm muscle (DIA, fast twitch muscle), which retains physically active throughout the life span, was used as nondisuse control. The results showed that the expressions of S1 and S3 in 24-month DIA muscle were identical with the trained aged EDL muscle. It is suggested that exercise might delay the onset of S1 expression. However, the expression of S3 over age seemed to be progressive and exercise independent. Another protein spot, S2 was identified to express only in young EDL and SOL muscles, but its expression decreased over age. Furthermore, exercise has no effect on S2 expression since S2 could not be detected in aged DIA as well as trained aged EDL and SOL muscles. These results indicated that aqueous protein expression patterns of skeletal muscle undergo changes during aging. Some of these changes such as S2 and S3 appear progressively, and some such as S1 could be delayed by exercise. S3 was identified as ubiquitin, which might play an important role in protein degradation during skeletal muscle aging process.

Spectral bifurcations in dispersive wave turbulence

Dispersive wave turbulence is studied numerically for a class of one-dimensional nonlinear wave equations. Both deterministic and random (white noise in time) forcings are studied. Four distinct stable spectra are observed-the direct and inverse cascades of weak turbulence (WT) theory, thermal equilibrium, and a fourth spectrum (MMT; Majda, McLaughlin, Tabak). Each spectrum can describe long-time behavior, and each can be only metastable (with quite diverse lifetimes)-depending on details of nonlinearity, forcing, and dissipation. Cases of a long-live MMT transient state dcaying to a state with WT spectra, and vice-versa, are displayed. In the case of freely decaying turbulence, without forcing, both cascades of weak turbulence are observed. These WT states constitute the clearest and most striking numerical observations of WT spectra to date-over four decades of energy, and three decades of spatial, scales. Numerical experiments that study details of the composition, coexistence, and transition between spectra are then discussed, including: (i) for deterministic forcing, sharp distinctions between focusing and defocusing nonlinearities, including the role of long wavelength instabilities, localized coherent structures, and chaotic behavior; (ii) the role of energy growth in time to monitor the selection of MMT or WT spectra; (iii) a second manifestation of the MMT spectrum as it describes a self-similar evolution of the wave, without temporal averaging; (iv) coherent structures and the evolution of the direct and inverse cascades; and (v) nonlocality (in k-space) in the transferral process.

[A method for preparation of carbon fiber electrode]

Carbon fiber electrode (CFE) can be used in detection of exocytosis of single neuron or endocrine cell. A simplified method for preparation of CFE, as described in the present paper, greatly ensures the coordination and success of the preparation. Such CFEs have a low noise level. Exocytosis of rat adrenal chromaffin cells was investigated in the clarification of the effect of MPP+ on transmitter release. It is found that exocytosis was not stimulated by MPP+ and the high K+ induced secretion was not changed by MPP+. These observations suggest that the previously reported elevation of dopamine content in the surrounding histosolution of DA neuron is probably resulted from blockage of the re-uptake of DA by MPP+.

Isolation of a gene from Arabidopsis thaliana related to nematode feeding structures

Using a promoter tagging approach, a gene upregulated in nematode feeding structures (NFS) of Heterodera schachtii was identified in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Sequence analysis of the transgenic line bearing gus reporter gene and the wild-type plant revealed that the T-DNA had been inserted into the promoter of the gene, however, with transcription start points at different sites for the gus reporter gene and for the endogenous gene. This tagged gene, designated pyk20, encodes a transcript of 2.6 kb. Southern blot analysis revealed a single gene copy for pyk20 in the Arabidopsis C-24 genome. Other cruciferous plants were shown to possess pyk20 or homologous genes. The predicted amino acid sequence of the PYK20 protein contains 695 residues with a molecular mass of 78 kDa and includes a glutamine-rich domain in the C-terminal region. IAA and kinetin treatment increased the level of the pyk20 transcript in the plant, whereas ABA treatment and temperature stress reduced the pyk20 transcript level. In-situ hybridisation and Northern blot analysis revealed that the gene is expressed in NFS. Based on homologies of the glutamine-rich domain, the biological role of the pyk20 gene product as a transcription factor is assumed.

AND-34, a novel p130Cas-binding thymic stromal cell protein regulated by adhesion and inflammatory cytokines

We have characterized a novel cDNA whose steady state mRNA levels rise in the thymus 2 to 6 h following the induction of CD4+CD8+ thymocyte apoptosis by in vivo cross-linking of CD3 epsilon. This cDNA, AND-34-1, contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein with an amino-terminal Src homology 2 (SH2) domain and a carboxyl-terminal domain homologous to GDP-exchange factors (GEFs). Northern analysis demonstrates widespread expression of the AND-34 gene. Anti-CD3 epsilon treatment induces up-regulation of the AND-34 mRNA levels in total thymic RNA but not in RNA from purified thymocytes, suggesting that this transcript is derived from a thymic stromal cell population. IL-1 and TNF increase AND-34 transcript levels in thymic cortical reticular, thymic nurse, and fibroblast cell lines. In the thymic cortical reticular cell line, IL-1 and TNF induce a protein of the predicted 93-kDa size reactive with anti-AND-34 peptide antisera. Fifteen minutes of serum stimulation of vanadate-pretreated AND-34-1-transfected NIH3T3 fibroblasts induces tyrosine phosphorylation of AND-34 as well as coprecipitating 95-, 125-, and 130-kDa proteins. One of these tyrosine phosphorylated proteins is identified as p130Cas (Crk-associated substrate), a signaling molecule previously known to bind to a GDP-exchange factor (C3G) and inducibly associate with the focal adhesion complex. Consistent with such an association, AND-34 tyrosine phosphorylation is induced following adherence of trypsinized fibroblasts to fibronectin or poly-L -lysine-coated surfaces.

[Effect of regulation of kidney-yin and kidney-yang on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thymus axis in monosodium L-glutamate rats]

OBJECTIVE

To study the interrelationship between hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thymus (HPAT) axis and Kidney-Yang and Kidney-Yin in arcuate nucleus destroyed rats.

METHODS

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) 4 mg/g body weight was given subcutaneously to neonatal rats at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10th day after born to destroy the ARC, and Zuogui pill or Yougui pill (5 g/kg daily) was given respectively by gastrogavage when the model rats entered adulthood.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining showed that in the model group the number of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) positive neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and anterior pituitary adrenotrophin (ACTH) positive secretory cells, which stained deeply, were more than those in the control group, the adrenal fasciculate zone disturbed with increased cells and obviously dilated sinusoid. The thymus atrophied with lymphocyte proliferation apparently lower, blood corticosterone, ACTH content and hypothalamic CRF level higher in the model than those in the control. Zuogui pill could improve above-mentioned pathophysiologic changes effectively but Yougui pill could not.

CONCLUSION

Process of pathophysiology of HPA axis hyperfunction accompanied cell-mediated immunodeficiency may belong to the category of Kidney-Yin Deficiency Syndrome.

[The role of nitric oxide on the functional change of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 induced rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 on nitric oxide (NO) production, islet cell DNA and insulin content, and MTT assay of rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans.

METHODS

Isolated pancreatic islet cells from SD rats were cultured in monolayer in vitro. Nitrite production, islet cell DNA and insulin content, and MTT assay in rat pancreatic islet cells incubated with IL-1 beta and IL-6, singly or in combination, were measured. The levels of these parameters of the cytokines in the absence and presence of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthetase, were compared.

RESULTS

IL-1 beta induced a significant increase in nitrite production, a decrease of islet cell DNA and insulin content and reduction of cell activity (MTT, P < 0.001); these changes were blocked by L-NMMA (P < 0.001). IL-6 produced no significant change in those parameters (P > 0.05). The combination of IL-1 beta and IL-6 increased NO production, decreased islet cell DNA and insulin content and reduced cell activity (P < 0.001); the changes were similar to those with IL-1 beta alone (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The cytotoxic effects of IL-1 beta on pancreatic islets might be mediated by NO. IL-6 may not be directly cytotoxic to pancreatic islets. It may be related with the fact that IL-6 does not induce NO production.

[Determination of triflumizole and its metabolite residues in vegetables by high performance liquid chromatography]

Triflumizole (TRI) and its metabolite [4-chloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-N-(1-amino-2-propoxythylidene)- O-toluidine] (MET) were extracted with methanol and reverse-extracted with dichloromethane. After evaporation to dryness, the residue in dichloromethane layer was dissolved in mobile phase for high performance liquid chromatographic determination with external standard method. The total residue content of TRI and MET (calculated as TRI) is reported.

Prior exposure to neurotrophins blocks inhibition of axonal regeneration by MAG and myelin via a cAMP-dependent mechanism

MAG is a potent inhibitor of axonal regeneration. Here, inhibition by MAG, and myelin in general, is blocked if neurons are exposed to neurotrophins before encountering the inhibitor; priming cerebellar neurons with BDNF or GDNF, but not NGF, or priming DRG neurons with any of these neurotrophins blocks inhibition by MAG/myelin. Dibutyryl cAMP also overcomes inhibition by MAG/myelin, and cAMP is elevated by neurotrophins. A PKA inhibitor present during priming abrogates the block of inhibition. Finally, if neurons are exposed to MAG/myelin and neurotrophins simultaneously, but with the Gi protein inhibitor, inhibition is blocked. We suggest that priming neurons with particular neurotrophins elevates cAMP and activates PKA, which blocks subsequent inhibition of regeneration and that priming is required because MAG/myelin activates a Gi protein, which blocks increases in cAMP. This is important for encouraging axons to regrow in vivo.

Structure of double-shelled rice dwarf virus

Rice dwarf virus (RDV), a member of the Reoviridae family, is a double-stranded RNA virus. Infection of rice plants with RDV reduces crop production significantly and can pose a major economic threat to Southeast Asia. A 25-A three-dimensional structure of the 700-A-diameter RDV capsid has been determined by 400-kV electron cryomicroscopy and computer reconstruction. The structure revealed two distinctive icosahedral shells: a T=13l outer icosahedral shell composed of 260 trimeric clusters of P8 (46 kDa) and an inner T=1 icosahedral shell of 60 dimers of P3 (114 kDa). Sequence and structural comparisons were made between the RDV outer shell trimer and the two crystal conformations (REF and HEX) of the VP7 trimer of bluetongue virus, an animal analog of RDV. The low-resolution structural match of the RDV outer shell trimer to the HEX conformation of VP7 trimer has led to the proposal that P8 consists of an upper domain of beta-sandwich motif and a lower domain of alpha helices. The less well fit REF conformation of VP7 to the RDV trimer may be due to the differences between VP7 and P8 in the sequence of the hinge region that connects the two domains. The additional mass density and the absence of a known signaling peptide on the surface of the RDV outer shell trimer may be responsible for the different interactions between plants and animal reoviruses.

[Somastostatin and growth hormone in preventing liver damage due to acute necrotizing pancreatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the role of somastostatin and growth hormone in preventing liver damage due to ANP.

METHODS

The roles of inflammatory mediators (Endotoxin, Amylase, TNF alpha) were investigated in ANP model by retrograde injection of 3.5% sodium taurocholate 2.5 ml/kg into the pancreatic duct, and TNF alpha mRNA in the liver after ANP was observed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Besides, the effects of somastostain and growth hormone were also observed.

RESULTS

ANP caused remarkable elevation of those inflammatory mediators, being positively correlated with the development of pancreas and liver damage. Somastostain and growth hormone inhibited the inflammatory mediates and TNF alpha mRNA overexpression and reduced the damage to the pancreas and liver.

CONCLUSIONS

TNF alpha plays an important role in ANP progression, and somastostatin and growth hormone may prevent the development and progression of liver damage due to ANP.

[Clinical and experimental study on treatment of acute cerebral infarction with Acanthopanax Injection]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of Radix Acanthopanacis Senticosi in treating acute cerebral infarction and its mechanism.

METHODS

Clinical study using single-blind, control trial, in which 60-80 ml of Acanthopanax Injection (AI) added to 500 ml of 0.9% normal saline was given by intravenous drip once a day for 14 days in the AI group(34 patients), while 500 ml of dextra-40 was given by the same way in the control group(26 patients). In experimental study, rabbit model of acute incomplete cerebral ischemia was made by ligation of bilateral common carotid artery. 10 ml of AI were given once daily intravenously for 7 days to the AI group and 10 ml of normal saline was given to the control group in the same way. Clinical effects (in clinical study) and effect of AI on cerebral oxygen free radicals (OFR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and serum concentration of ACTH and cortisone were observed (in experimental study).

RESULTS

Clinical study showed that the total effective rate of AI group (86%) was higher than that of the control group (50%) while nervous functional deficit score was lower in AI group (9.96 +/- 4.66) than that in the control group (13.56 +/- 1.84) significantly. Experimental study showed that the cerebral level of OFR decreased while SOD increased and serum concentration of ACTH and cortisone decreased after treatment in AI group.

CONCLUSIONS

AI was effective in treating acute cerebral infarction, the mechanism is probably by ameliorating peroxidation in brain and improving hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function.