Effects of Soybean Isoflavone on the Notch Signal Pathway of the Brain in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric lavage with soybean isoflavone activates the Notch signaling pathway and prevents apoptosis in the cerebral cortex during experimental strokes. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 10 rats each: sham operation plus vehicle (Sham), middle cerebral artery occlusion plus vehicle (MCAO), MCAO plus low dose soybean isoflavone (10 mg/(kg·d)) and MCAO plus high dose soybean isoflavone (50 mg/(kg·d)). The vehicle (saline, 10 mL/(kg·d)) and soybean isoflavone were administered by gastric lavage for 28 d prior to sham or MCAO operation and for 7 d afterward. The mRNA and protein expression levels of components of the Notch signaling system (Notch1 and Hes5) were measured by in situ hybridization and western blotting, respectively, whereas apoptosis was quantified by TUNEL assay. The results showed that MCAO stimulated expression of Notch1 and Hes5, at both the mRNA and protein levels, and also increased apoptosis. Soybean isoflavone dose-dependently augmented the stimulatory effect of MCAO on Notch1 and Hes5 expression levels but decreased apoptosis. These results identify a possible mechanism by which soybean isoflavone confers neuroprotection in strokes.

TTC staining of damaged brain areas after MCA occlusion in the rat does not constrict quantitative gene and protein analyses

“…The literature revealed that results of gene expression analysis in experimental stroke are sometimes difficult to construe. Some reports completely lack information about the origin of the investigated tissue (Liu et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2009); in other cases the entire cortices were used for analysis (Hoda et al, 2009;Huang et al, 2009).…”

Rhamnetin and Cirsiliol Induce Radiosensitization and Inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) by miR-34a-mediated Suppression of Notch-1 Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

“…There have been many investigations for an application of flavonoids as anti-carcinogenic and radiosensitizing agents, because flavonoids display anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-bacterial activities (33,34). Some of the flavonoids, such as genistein, quercetin, baicalin, baicalein, and niclosamide, have been reported to regulate the Notch-1 pathway in various cancer cell lines (35)(36)(37)(38). Thus, we performed flavonoid screening and selected rhamnetin and cirsiliol as Notch-1-regulating candidates, which have been poorly studied in cancer.…”

Effect of Ilexonin A on the Notch signaling pathway following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

“…can potentially induce Notch signaling to promote neurogenesis and reduce neuronal apoptosis [29,30]. Here we show that intraperitoneal injections of IA, immediately after ischemia-reperfusion and continuing for 14 d, result in increased levels of NICD protein and Notch1, PS1, and HES1 gene expression, suggesting that IA promotes Notch activation.…”