Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 can sufficiently control the progress of neurological symptoms after ischemic stroke owing to their actions associated with its downstream genes. In this study, we evaluated the role of HIF-1α in attenuating brain damage after endothelin-1 injection. Focal cerebral ischemia in mice were induced by endothelin-1 microinjection. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activator, dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), and HIF-1α inhibitor, acriflavine (ACF), were used to evaluate the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activity during cerebral ischemia. The expression levels of HIF-1α, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), phosphorylated I-kappa-B-alpha/total I-kappa-B-alpha (p-IκBα/IκBα) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) were assessed. Besides, mRNA levels of IL-10, tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α), and NF-kB were also analyzed. Results showed a noticeable increase in hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and IL-10 levels in the DMOG group with a decline in iNOS, TNF-α, and NF-kB levels, implying the anti-inflammatory role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activator following stroke. These findings were further corroborated by GFAP immunostaining that showed astrocytic activation to be inhibited 12 days post-ischemia, as well as histological and TEM analyses that demonstrated hypoxia-inducible factor 1 induction to alleviate neuronal soma damage and cell death. Based on our study, HIF-1α could be a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

Every year, around the world, between 250000 and 500000 people suffer from spinal cord injury (SCI). This study investigated the potential for poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) complex inoculated with olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) to treat spinal cord injury in a rat model. OECs were identified by immunofluorescence based on the nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) p75. The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score, together with an inclined plane (IP) test were used to detect functional recovery. Nissl staining along with the luxol fast blue (LFB) staining were independently employed to illustrate morphological alterations. More so, immunofluorescence labeling of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), representing astrocytes and neurons respectively, were investigated at time points of weeks 2 and 8 post-operation. The findings showed enhanced locomotor recovery, axon myelination and better protected neurons post SCI when compared with either PLGA or untreated groups (P < 0.05). PLGA complexes inoculated with OECs improve locomotor functional recovery in transected spinal cord injured rat models, which is most likely due to the fact it is conducive to a relatively benevolent microenvironment, has nerve protective effects, as well as the ability to enhance remyelination, via a promotion of cell differentiation and inhibition of astrocyte formation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes a high rate of morbidity and disability. The clinical features of SCI are divided into acute, subacute, and chronic phases according to its pathophysiological events. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays an important role in cell death and inflammation in the acute phase and neuroregeneration in the subacute/chronic phases at different times. Resveratrol has the potential of regulating cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and angiogenesis through the mTOR signaling pathway. Herein, we explicate the role of resveratrol in the repair of SCI through the inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway. The inhibition of the mTOR pathway by resveratrol has the potential of serving as a neuronal restorative mechanism following SCI.

In addition to imperiling an individual's daily life, spinal cord injury (SCI), a catastrophic medical damage, can permanently impair an individual's body function. Methylprednisolone (MP), a medically accepted therapeutic drug for SCI, is highly controversial for the lack of consensus on its true therapeutic effect. In recent years, curcumin has served as a potential and novel therapeutic drug in SCI. Our study was intended to investigate the precise effect of MP and curcumin in SCI. We examined the function of MP and curcumin in a SCI model rat, both in vivo and in vitro, and found that there was a momentous improvement in Basso‐Beattie‐Bresnahan scores in the MP‐treated group when compared with Cur‐treated group within 14 days. Results obtained from the histological, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural examinations evidenced the curative effect of MP was better than curcumin before Day 14. Nonetheless, there was a significant variation in the treatment effect between the MP‐treated and Cur‐treated groups after 14 days. The curcumin's effectiveness was more obvious than MP after 14 days following SCI. As such, we surmise that curcumin has a better therapeutic potential than MP with a prolong treatment time in the wake of SCI. Anat Rec, 301:686–696, 2018.