EGb761 improves histological and functional recovery in rats with acute spinal cord contusion injury

Abstract

Study design: This is an experimental study. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (EGb761) on histological features of injured sites and on functional performance of rats subjected to standardized spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: This study was conducted in Xian, Shaanxi, China. Methods: Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated, saline-treated control and EGb761-treated. The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Score (BBB score) was calculated and footprint analysis was performed to evaluate the functional performance of the rats in each group. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 staining were performed to evaluate the necrosis area and apoptotic cells at the injured site in each group. Results: At 14, but not 1, 3 and 7, days post injury (DPI), rats in the EGb761-treated group exhibited significantly better BBB scores compared with the saline-treated control group (Po0.05). The EGb761-treated group also showed increased stride length, decreased stride width and reduced toe dragging at 14 DPI (Po0.05). Analysis of HE staining revealed that the EGb761-treated group had reduced necrosis at the injury site compared with the saline-treated control group (Po0.05). Analysis of TUNEL and caspase-3 staining demonstrated that cell apoptosis was increased at 1-14 DPI, peaking at 24-h post injury in the gray matter, and 7 DPI in the white matter. At 7 DPI, the quantity of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in the EGb761-treated group. Conclusion: EGb761 administration during the acute phase after SCI significantly reduced secondary injury-induced tissue necrosis and cell apoptosis and improved functional performance in rats.

Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in spinal cord injury

“…Analysis of apoptosis results and caspase-3 staining demonstrats that cell apoptosis was increased at 1-14 days post injury (DPI). At 7 DPI, the quantity of apoptotic cells significantly decreased in the EGb761-treated group in rats with acute spinal cord contusion injury (Yan et al, 2016). GBE inhibited nerve cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways after spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion in rabbits.…”

Neuropathology in respiratory-related motoneurons in young Pompe (Gaa) mice

“…1) would co-localize with histological evidence of “activated” microglia (Karperien et al, 2013) and degenerating neurons. Thus, additional staining procedures included IBA-1 to examine microglial morphology (Ito et al, 1998), GFAP to examine astrocyte morphology (Li et al, 2014), Tunel for evidence of DNA damage (Gavrieli et al, 1992; Kyrylkova et al, 2012; Yan et al, 2015; Zhang et al, 2014), and CC3 as a marker for ongoing apoptosis (Biosciences, 2012; Nicholson et al, 1995). Collectively, the data did not support the a priori hypothesis, but the results raise the possibility that neuronal glycogen accumulation (as indicated by PAS staining) and neurodegeneration may be occurring independently during early stages of the disease process.…”

The Importance of Natural Antioxidants in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in Animal Models: An Overview

“…In spinal cord ischemic injury, EGb-761 protected spinal cord neurons in vivo , as well as hydrogen peroxide-induced spinal cord neuronal death in vitro [ 120 ]. During the acute phase after SCI, EGb-761 administration significantly reduced secondary injury-induced tissue necrosis and cell apoptosis and improved functional performance in rats [ 121 ].…”