Abstract: AIM: To investigate the protective effects of matrine on neurons and astrocytes in focal ischemia induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in mouse and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: MTT and LDH assays were used to assess the protective effects of matrine in primary culture of neurons and astrocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). The improvement effects of matrine in 10 min, 1 h, 3 h and 6 h on focal ischemia induced by pMCAO in mouse were evaluated by neuroethology and staining images. The expression of IκBα, IKK, p-IKK and NF-κB in ischemic region 24 h after pMCAO were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Matrine at 50 μmol/L increased the survival rates of neurons and astrocytes and decreased the LDH leakage in astrocytes injured by OGD. In intact animals, matrine (37.5 mg/kg) improved the neuroethology of pMCAO mouse, the time window may be within 1 h after onset of the ischemia; matrine (37.5 mg/kg) significantly reduce infarction volumes of pMCAO mouse and the expression of IκBα, IKK and NF-κB in ischemic area.CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that matrine, administrated 1 h after ischemia, has protective effects on neurons and astrocytes, possibly via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Key words: Matrine, Focal ischemia, Oxygen-glucose deprivation model, NF-κB;