Salvianolate lyophilized injection promotes post-stroke functional recovery via the activation of VEGF and BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling pathway.

Reports show that, while the mechanism remains unknown, salvianolate lyophilized injection (SLI) improves functional recovery after stroke in diabetic rats. In this study, we investigated the mechanism and effect of SLI on stroke outcome in type 1 diabetic (T1DM) rats. T1DM were induced in adult male Wistar rats by injecting streptozotocin. T1DM rats were then subjected to 90 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). SLI (10.5, 21, 42 mg/kg, respectively) was administered by tail vein injection at 24 hours after MCAO, and dayly and last for 14 days. The neurological deficit score and brain infarct volume were assessed after 14 days. Also, VEGF, BDNF, TrkB, CREB and p-CREB levels in the ischemic brain tissue were analyzed with western blot at 14 days after MCAO. SLI significantly reduced neurological deficit scores and cerebral infarct volume, and reduced lesion volumes at all time points. SLI also increased the expression of VEGF, BDNF, TrkB, CREB and p-CREB protein levels in T1DM-MCAO rats. In summary, our results demonstrate that SLI can improve functional recovery after stroke in diabetic rats, and the mechanism of treating cerebral ischemic injury is related to the activation of the VEGF, BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling pathway.