Effect of Taohongsiwu decoction on the angiogenesis and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury

Objective: To explore the effects of Taohongsiwu decoction on the angiogenesis and PI3K/AKT signal pathway in brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CIRI).Methods: Adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group,model group,Huatuozaizao pill group(2.0 g/kg),and high,middle and low dose of Taohongsiwu decoction groups(2.1 g/kg,1.4 g/kg and 0.7 g/kg).The CIRI model rats were established using the modified MCAO,and successively infused for 7 days.The nerve function scoring,microvessel density(MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and levels of AKT and p-AKT in brain tissue of all groups were investigated using the Zea longa,immunohistochemistry and Western blot,respectively.Results: The nerve function injury in sham group were not found,the scores of the nerve dysfunction in Huatuozaizao pill group,and high,middle and low dose of Taohongsiwu decoction groups were significantly lower than that in model group(P<0.05 to P<0.01).the score of the nerve dysfunction in high dose of Taohongsiwu decoction group was significantly lower than that in Huatuozaizao pill group,and middle and low dose of Taohongsiwu decoction groups(P<0.05 to P<0.01).The levels of MVD and VEGF in sham group were significantly lower than those in model group(P<0.01),the levels of MVD in Huatuozaizao pill group and high,middle dose of Taohongsiwu decoction groups were significantly higher than those in model group(P<0.01),and the level of VEGF in high dose of Taohongsiwu decoction group was significantly higher than that in model group(P<0.01).The levels of MVD and p-AKT in high dose of Taohongsiwu decoction group were higher than those in Huatuozaizao pill group,and middle and low dose of Taohongsiwu decoction groups(P<0.05 to P<0.01),the level of VEGF in high dose of Taohongsiwu decoction group was lower than that in low dose of Taohongsiwu decoction group(P<0.05),and the differences of the levels of AKT between each group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusions: Taohongsiwu decoction in treating the rats with CIRI has significant effects,the mechanism of which may be involved in promoting the angiogenesis and recovering the nerve function by activating PI3K/AKT signal pathway in ischemic site of brain.