Objective: To observe the effect of Zhongfengkang on the content of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in brain of focal cerebral ischemia rats.
Method: The model of focal cerebral ischemia was made by thread-blocking method. In comparison with the curative effect of buchangnaoxintong, the action of Zhongfengkang on infarct volume and the content of IGF-1 in brain of focal cerebral ischemia rats were observed in 6, 12, 24 h and 48 h after cerebral ischemia.
Result: As compared with sham operation group, the content of IGF-1 in brain of model group was gradually increased from 6th hour after cerebral ischemia, reaching to the maximal level at 24th hour after the onset of cerebral ischemia (P < 0.01). In comparison with the values in model group at the corresponding time points, the content of IGF-1 in brain of each treatment groups was increased in different extent with a maximal enhancement in the group treated by the high dose of Zhongfengkang (P < 0. 05 or P < 0.01); while the infarct volume of each treatment groups were decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Zhongfengkang could effectively protect the cerebral tissue from injury of focal cerebral ischemia in the rats through increasing the cerebral content of IGF-1 and reducing infarct volume.