Effect of Xingnaojing injection on hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors of focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Objective: To observe and elucidate the neuroprotective effect of Xingnaojing (XNJ) injection on hippocampal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors of focal cerebral ischemia in rats.Methods: Cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery with an intraluminal suture technique in rats. Neurological deficit score, infarct volume and quantity of NMDA receptors were estimated in all groups and compared.Results: After being treated with XNJ, the score decreased in the initial 6 hours and infarct volume decreased in 24 hours. And within 24 hours, the quantity of NMDA receptors obviously decreased compared with the model group (P<0. 01). It indicated that XNJ could ameliorate neurological behavior of middle cerebral artery occlusion rats and down-regulate the expression of hippocampal NMDA receptors.Conclusion: The neuroprotective effect of XNJ on focal cerebral ischemia is possibly related to down-regulating the expression of NMDA receptors in rats.