Razi Herbal Medicine Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khoramabad, Iran.
Brain Res. 2010 Jan 8;1306:168-75. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.09.109. Epub 2009 Oct 6.
Recent studies revealed the neuroprotective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on a variety of neural injury .The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of EGCG on the tissue protection and behavioral improvement after spinal cord injury (SCI). Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 18 rats each as follows: sham-operated group, trauma group, and EGCG treatment groups (50 mg/kg, i.p., immediately and 1 hour after SCI). Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for determination of malodialdehyde (MDA) levels, immunohistochemistry of Bax and Bcl-2, and TUNEL reaction. Behavioral testing was performed weekly up to 6 weeks post-injury. Then, the rats were euthanized for histopathological assessment. The results showed that MDA levels were significantly decreased in EGCG treatment groups. Greater Bcl-2 and attenuated Bax expression could be detected in the EGCG-treated rats. EGCG significantly reduced TUNEL-positive rate. Also, EGCG significantly reduced the percentage of lesion area and improved behavioral function than the trauma group. On the basis of these findings, we propose that EGCG may be effective in protecting rat spinal cord from secondary injury.
最近的研究揭示了表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯 (EGCG) 对多种神经损伤的神经保护作用。本研究旨在确定 EGCG 对脊髓损伤 (SCI) 后组织保护和行为改善的影响。大鼠随机分为四组，每组 18 只，分别为：假手术组、创伤组和 EGCG 治疗组（50mg/kg，腹腔注射，SCI 后立即和 1 小时）。损伤后 24 小时取脊髓样本，测定丙二醛 (MDA) 水平、Bax 和 Bcl-2 的免疫组织化学以及 TUNEL 反应。行为测试每周进行一次，持续 6 周。然后处死大鼠进行组织病理学评估。结果显示，EGCG 治疗组 MDA 水平显著降低。在 EGCG 治疗的大鼠中可以检测到更多的 Bcl-2 和减弱的 Bax 表达。EGCG 显著降低了 TUNEL 阳性率。此外，EGCG 还显著降低了损伤面积百分比，并改善了行为功能，优于创伤组。基于这些发现，我们提出 EGCG 可能对保护大鼠脊髓免受继发性损伤有效。
