Morin protects the blood-brain barrier integrity against cerebral ischemia reperfusion through anti-inflammatory actions in rats

Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 7;10(1):13379. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70214-8.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of morin on cerebral damage and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion model. Wistar rats were exposed to MCAO for 2 h, followed by reperfusion. Thirty mg/kg of morin was administered via intraperitoneal injection at the different time points: before ischemia, during ischemia, and at reperfusion. The rats were divided into five groups, including sham, vehicle, and three groups of morin. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the rats were tested for neurological deficits, and the brains were harvested to assess brain damage. In addition, brains were harvested 72 h to determine BBB disruption. We found that morin significantly reduced reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation. It also decreased inflammation via reducing the expression of Toll-like receptor 4, nuclear factor kappa-beta. Morin ameliorated cerebral damage and reduced apoptosis through decreasing the cerebral infarct size, including apoptotic cell death. Moreover, morin decreased the BBB damage via reducing Evans blue extravasation, neutrophil infiltration, and increasing tight junction protein expression. Therefore, morin protected against cerebral and BBB damage by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in MCAO and reperfusion models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Brain Ischemia / drug therapy*
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use
  • Inflammation
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / prevention & control*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • NF-kappa B
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • morin