Abstract: Objective To study the effects of Dengzhan Shengmai (DZSM) capsules on the autophagy in brains after cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=10), 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group (n=10), 3-MA-control group (n=10), DZSM group (n=10) and DZSM-control group (n=10). The middle cerebral arteries were occluded for 1 hour and re-perfused in all the rats except the sham group. The 3-MA and 3-MA-control groups were injected 3-MA or normal saline (NS) into the right lateral ventricle 1 hour before operation. The DZSM and DZSM-control groups accepted DZSM or NS by gavage daily for 3 days since 4 hours after reperfusion. The rats were assessed with Longa's score 3 days after operation, and the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 in the brain were detected with immunofluorescent labeling and Western blotting; and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected with chemiluminescence in the DZSM and DZSM-control groups. Results The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 increased in the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere, especially in the cortex and striatum surrounding the infarct core (P< 0.001, compared with the sham group). The expression of LC3 and Beclin1 decreased in the 3-MA group compared with the 3-MA-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001). The expression of LC3-II and Beclin1 decreased in the DZSM group compared with the DZSM-control group (P<0.001), with the decrease of Longa's score (P<0.001) and level of ROS (P<0.001). Conclusion Inhibition of autophagy after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion plays a role in neuroprotection, which may be a way of DZSM to work.

Key words: cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, autophagy, Dengzhan Shengmai Capsules, rats