[Changes of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid contents in brain tissue of brain edema and effects of baicalin on them in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the changes of glutamates (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents in brain tissue of infectious brain edema, and effects of baicalin on them in rats.

METHODS

The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the Glu and GABA contents in homogenized brain tissue after baicalin was injected intraperitoneally on infectious brain edema induced by pertussis bacilli in rats.

RESULTS

Glu contents of homogenized brain tissue in blank control group (C), normal saline group (NS), pertussis bacilli group (PB) and baicalin group (BC) had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The concentration of GABA was more significantly increased in the BC group (4.06 +/- 0.52) than that in the PB group (2.71 +/- 0.29) (P < 0.05). Water content of brain was reduced in the BC group (79.8 +/- 0.4) as compared with the PB group (82.2 +/- 0.3)(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Baicalin has a protective effect against the pertussis bacilli-induced brain edema in rats, and protective effect was correlated to the increased content of GABA in the brain tissue in rats.