RESUMEN
Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with a long history of use in Chinese medicine, has several important pharmacological effects. Several studies have revealed that berberine has neuroprotective and neuropsychiatric effects. However, there are few reports regarding the protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia. In this study, mice were subjected to 20 min of global brain ischemia and sacrificed 72 hr later. Berberine was administered for 7 days prior to ischemia and daily until sacrifice. Mice treated with berberine showed reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. Berberine inhibited gelatinase activity directly in in situ zymography and reduced neuronal damage following global ischemia. Laminin expression and NeuN expression were markedly reduced in CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia, and berberine reduced the laminin degradation and neuronal loss. In the TUNEL assay, damaged neurons were also apparent in the CA1 and CA2 areas, and berberine reduced TUNEL-positive cells. These data demonstrate that berberine, a plant alkaloid, may protect from hippocampal neuronal damage following transient global ischemia by reducing MMP-9 activity.
Asunto(s)
Berberina/uso terapéutico , Hipocampo/enzimología , Ataque Isquémico Transitorio/enzimología , Ataque Isquémico Transitorio/prevención & control , Metaloproteinasa 9 de la Matriz/metabolismo , Neuronas/enzimología , Animales , Berberina/farmacología , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Activación Enzimática/fisiología , Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Hipocampo/patología , Ataque Isquémico Transitorio/patología , Masculino , Inhibidores de la Metaloproteinasa de la Matriz , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/patología , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Schwannoma is rarely encountered as an intraocular tumor arising from uveal tract. We describe a case of choroidal schwannoma. METHODS: A 74-year-old woman presented with rapidly decreasing visual acuity and proptosis for 2 months. To further delineate the tumor, she underwent enucleation of the eyeball. The tumor was examined by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: Microscopically, the tumor was composed of a mixture of cellular solid component (Antoni A) and loose myxoid component (Antoni B). Immunohistochemical study revealed a positive reaction for S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed prominent, continuous basal lamina. CONCLUSIONS: We enucleated the eyeball with a clinical diagnosis of choroidal amelanotic melanoma, but the tumor was finally diagnosed as schwannoma. We think that currently available ancillary studies are still little value in definitely differentiating schwannoma from other choroidal tumors.