Neuroprotective Effect of Rosuvastatin Calcium Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Mediated p38MAPK Pathway in Rats with Leukoaraiosis

This study explored the neuroprotective mechanism of rosuvastatin calcium (RSC) combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in rats with leukoaraiosis (LA), and its impact on the p38MAPK signaling pathway (SPW). Clean-grade male SD rats were used as subjects, which were assigned into Sham group (SG), LA group (LAG), RSC group (RSCG), HBO group (HBOG), and RSC + HBO group (combination group, CG), 20 rats in each. At 14 d post-modeling, the effects of RSC, HBO, and RSC + HBO treatment on the cognitive function, brain neuronal cell apoptosis, brain tissue matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family gene expression, and the status of the p38MAPK SPW in LA rats were analyzed. As against the LAG, the escape latency (EL) was shortened, the count of platform crossings was augmented, the number of brain neuronal cell apoptosis decreased, the relative expression (RE) of brain TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 mRNA were reduced (P < 0.05), and the RE of brain cleaved caspase (Cas)-3 and p-p38MAPK proteins were reduced in the RSCG, HBOG, and CG (P < 0.05); As against the RSCG and HBOG, the CG showed more visible improvements in all indicators (P < 0.05). The combination of RSC and HBO can inhibit brain neuronal cell apoptosis and the expression of the MMPs family genes in rats with LA by suppressing the overactivation of the p38MAPK SPW, which is beneficial for the recovery of the rats' cognitive function.