Neuroprotective effect of aspirin combined with ginkgolide injection on cerebral ischemic stroke rats and its effect on ERK12 signal pathway

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of aspirin combined with ginkgolide injection on cerebral ischemic stroke model rats and its effect on extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (REK1/2) signaling pathway, and to clarify the possible mechanism of aspirin combined with ginkgolide injection on neuroprotective mechanism. Experimental rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, aspirin group, ginkgolide group and combination group (aspirin + ginkgolide injection) (n = 20). The results revealed scores of neurological dysfunction and infarct volume in aspirin group, ginkgolide group and combination group rats were lower than those in model group (P < 0.05). Score of neurological dysfunction and the volume of cerebral infarction in combination group rats were lower than those in aspirin group and ginkgolide group (P < 0.05). Combination of aspirin and ginkgolide injection could better reduce brain water content, reduce apoptosis rate of cortical cells P < 0.05, reduce expression levels of caspase-3, Bax and p-REK1/2 proteins in ischemic brain tissue P < 0.05, and increase expression level of Bcl-2 protein than aspirin and ginkgolide injection alone P < 0.05). In conclusion, the synergistic neuroprotective effect of aspirin and ginkgolide injection on cerebral ischemic stroke rats is better than that of aspirin and ginkgolide injection alone. The mechanism of action may be that the two compounds can play a synergistic role and inhibit the activation of REK1/2 signaling pathway, thus inhibiting apoptosis of nerve cells and exerting neuroprotective effect.