Effects of catalpol on ATPase and amino acids in gerbils with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of catalpol on ATPase and amino acids in gerbils following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury. Gerbil model of CI/R was prepared by bilateral common carotid occlusion for 10 min followed by 6 h of reperfusion. Catalpol (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg per day) was injected intraperitoneally for 3 days before the carotid occlusion. Stroke index was measured during the reperfusion. ATPase activity, glutamate (Glu) and aspartate contents in brain tissue homogenate were examined. The results showed that catalpol significantly improved the stroke index compared with sham group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Catalpol markedly increased the activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and significantly decreased the content of Glu in brain tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These data suggest that the efficacy of catalpol pretreatment on CI/R injury is associated with the enhancement of ATPase activity and the inhibition of excitatory amino acid toxicity.