The aims of the present work were to analyze histological and morphometric changes in the brain in rats subjected to restraint stress and to evaluate the neuroprotective action of an Astragalus membranaceous extract (AE). Experiments were performed on three groups of Wistar rats (six per group): group 1 consisted of intact rats, group 2 of controls, i.e., animals subjected to restraint stress for 18 h, and group 3 of animals given p.o. AE (50 mg/kg) for seven days and subjected to restraint stress. The level of stress-induced brain injury was assessed morphometrically, on the basis of the proportions of unaltered neurons, hyperchromic shrunken neurons, and neurons with signs of dystrophy in layers III–V of the cerebral cortex and hippocampal field CA1, per unit area. Restraint stress in rats led to clear neuron damage in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. AE limited stress-induced neuronal injury: the proportion of hyperchromic shrunken neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus decreased by factors of 3 and 4.6, respectively, from the level seen in controls.
The aim of the study was to analyze histologicaland morphometric changes in the brain of ratssubjected to immobilization stress and to assessthe neuroprotective effect of the extract ofAstragalus membranaceus (AE). The work wascarried out on Wistar rats that were divided into 3groups (6 animals in each): group 1 — intact rats;group 2 — control animals subjected toimmobilization stress for 18 h; group 3 — ratstreated orally with AE (50 mg/kg) for 7 days andthen subjected to immobilization stress. The levelof stress-induced brain damage was assessed bya morphometric method, by measuring theproportions of morphologically intact neurons,hyperchromatic shrunken neurons and neuronswith the signs of degeneration in layers III–V of thecerebral cortex and CA1 region of thehippocampus in the standard area of the section.Immobilization stress in rats led to a clearlypronounced neuronal damage in the cerebralcortex and hippocampus. AE was found to limit thestress-induced neuronal damage in the cerebralcortex and the hippocampus: the proportion ofhyperchromatic shrunken neurons was reduced 3and 4.6 times, respectively, compared to control.
In the present study the influence of dry extract derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fish.) Bunge on the stability to the hemic, hystotoxic and hypercapnic hypoxies at rats was investigated. It was established that the course administration of the remedy under study in the doses of 50 mg/kg of the weight increased the stability at the experimental animals in hypoxies of different genesis.
In the present study the influence of dry extract derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fish.) Bunge on the stability to the hemic, hystotoxic and hypercapnic hypoxies at rats was investigated. It was established that the course administration of the remedy under study in the doses of 50 mg/kg of the weight increased the stability at the experimental animals in hypoxies of different genesis.
In the presented study the influence of dry the extract derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fish.) Bunge on the functional indices of central nervous system and the stability to the different kinds of hypoxia at rats was investigated. It was established that the course administration of the remedy under study in the doses of 50 mg/kg of the weight showed nootropic, anxiolytic and antihypoxic effects.
