Fig. 5

PPUS attenuated ischemic brain injury-induced tight junction degradation and MMP-9 elevation. (a) Representative western blots of MMP-9 and tight junction protein (ZO-1 and occludin) in brain tissues from DMSO- (Veh) and partially purified component of Uncaria sinensis (PPUS)-treated mice 24 h after ischemia. (b) Densitometric analysis of the western band. Mice were intraperitoneally administered DMSO or 3 mg/kg PPUS 30 min before ischemic insult. The control mice (Con) were without any ischemic injury. Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin and MMP-9 protein levels were analyzed in both ischemic cortex (ipsilateral, Ipsil) and nonischemic cortex (contralateral, Contral) of the brain by Western blotting. PPUS restored ZO-1 and occludin downregulation and suppressed MMP-9 overexpression. Data are expressed as means ± SEM (N = 6). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 compared with the control group; ^# P < 0.05, ^## P < 0.01 compared with the vehicle group (unpaired t-test)