Effect of berberine on angiogenesis and HIF-1alpha/ VEGF signal transduction pathway in rats with cerebral ischemia - reperfusion injury

To investigate the effect of berberine on angiogenesis and signal transduction pathway of hypoxia-inducible growth factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) / vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Study Design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Luoyang Central Hospital Affiliated with Zhengzhou University, China, from 2016 to 2017. Methodology: Forty-five rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and berberine group, 15 rats in each group. The model of rat with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was duplicated by suture method. eurological score was evaluated before, after operation, and 7 days after administration. Microvessel density (MVD) of cerebral ischemiareperfusion cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry. HIF-1alpha mRNA and VEGF mRNA of cerebral ischemiareperfusion cortex were detected by RT-PCR. HIF-1 alpha, and VEGF protein expression of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion cortex was detected by Western Blotting. Results: After operation and 7 days of administration, the neurological scores of the control group, model group, and berberine group were different (all p<0.001). After 7 days of administration, neurological score of berberine group was lower than that of model group (p <0.001), MVD, HIF-1alpha mRNA and VEGF mRNA expression. HIF-1alpha and VEGF protein expression levels were lower in model group than berberine group (all p <0.001). Conclusion: Berberine can promote angiogenesis in the rat with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Its mechanism may be activation of HIF-1alpha / VEGF signal transduction pathway. (author)