Triptolide improves neurobehavioral functions, inflammation, and oxidative stress in rats under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of triptolide (TPL) in a rat model of cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA). Rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, sham, DHCA, and DHCA + TPL (100, 200, 300 μg/kg). Neurobehavioral functions were measured using the elevated plus-maze, Y-maze, and Morris water maze tests. Levels of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress indices, and brain neurotrophins were measured by ELISA. Microglial activation and cell death was measured by immunofluorescence staining and TUNEL assay, respectively. Finally, activation of the Nrf2 pathway and NF-κB were detected by western blot. The elevated plus-maze, Y-maze, and Morris water maze tests all showed that TPL mitigated anxiety-like behavior, working memory, spatial learning, and memory in DHCA rats. TPL inhibited inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, as well as increased brain neurotrophin levels in DHCA rats. Moreover, TPL attenuated microglia activation and cell death in DHCA rats. Finally, TPL activated the Nrf2 pathway and inhibited NF-κB activity in DHCA rats. These results demonstrated that TPL improved neurobehavioral functions, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in DHCA rats, which may be associated with the Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways.