| 摘要: | 黃耆(Astragalus membranaceus)是傳統中醫五十多種基本藥材之其中一種。過去的研究顯示黃耆萃取液可能是一種潛在的神經生長促進因子，可有利於周圍神經軸突的生長。我們進一步研究黃耆萃取液在大鼠坐骨神經橫斷模型中對神經再生的影響。本實驗將大鼠分為三組（每組10隻）：分別為作為對照組的磷酸鹽緩衝溶液(PBS)，1.5 g/kg或3.0 g/kg實驗組的黃耆萃取液（隔日，餵食給藥），時間為四週。我們評估神經電生理學、神經元連接、巨噬細胞浸潤、降鈣素基因相關?(CGRP)表現水平和位置，以及神經生長相關因子和免疫調節因子的表現水平。黃耆（3.0 g/kg）實驗組中，大鼠神經電生理功能（神經傳導速率(NCV)和潛伏期）有明顯改善（P < 0.05）；降鈣素基因相關?(CGRP)表現和巨噬細胞密度的水平也顯著增加（P < 0.05）。但黃耆（3.0 g/kg）實驗組的纖維母細胞生長因子(FGF)、神經生長因子(NGF)、血小板衍生生長因子(PDGF)、轉化生長因子-β (TGF-β)、介白素-1 (IL-1)和干擾素-γ (INF-γ)的表現水平降低（P < 0.05）。而黃耆（1.5 g/kg）實驗組的纖維母細胞生長因子(FGF)、神經生長因子(NGF)、血小板衍生生長因子(PDGF)、介白素-1 (IL-1)和干擾素-γ (INF-γ)的表現水平增加（P < 0.05）。這些結果顯示黃耆能調節局部炎症，增強神經再生，並可能使嚴重損傷的周圍神經促進其恢復。
Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is one of fifty fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have shown that AM extract can be a potential nerve growth-promoting factor, being beneficial for the growth of peripheral nerve axons. We further investigated the effects of AM extract on regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Rats were divided into three groups (n = 10): PBS as the control, and 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg of AM extract (every other day for 4 weeks), respectively. We evaluated neuronal electrophysiology, neuronal connectivity, macrophage infiltration, expression levels and location of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and expression levels of both nerve growth factors and immunoregulatory factors. In the high-dose AM group, neuronal electrophysiological function was significantly improved (P < 0.05). Expression levels of CGRP and macrophage density were also drastically enhanced (P < 0.05). Expression levels of FGF, NGF, PDGF, transforming growth factor-β, IL-1, and IFN-γ were reduced in the high-dose AM group (P < 0.05), while FGF, NGF, PDGF, IL-1, and IFN-γ were increased in the low-dose AM group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that AM can modulate local inflammatory conditions, enhance nerve regeneration, and potentially increase recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury. |
