Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of morroniside on the expression of CD34 in ipsilateral cortex of rats after focal cerebral ischemia- reperfusion. Methods 45 male Sprague- Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=9), ischemia group (n=9), and morroniside groups (low, medium and high dosage groups, n=9). The middle cerebral artery were occluded for 30 minutes, and reperfused. Morroniside was administered intragastrically once a day at dose of 30 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 270 mg/kg after operation. The expression of CD34 in the ischemic ipsilateral cortex were detected with immunohistochemistry (n=6) and Western blotting (n=3) 7 days after operation. Results The expression of CD34 increased in the ischemia group compared with the sham group, and further increased in the morroniside groups of high dosage compared with the ischemia group (F>14.865, P<0.001). Conclusion Morroniside could increase the expression of CD34 in the ischemic ipsilateral cortex after ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which may promote the angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemia.

Key words: cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, morroniside, CD34, angiogenesis