Objective： To investigate the neuro-protective effects of baicaiin in Wistar rats with focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury. Methods： Ninety adult male Wistar rats weighing 320-350 g were randomly divided into the following groups （n=5）： （a） sham control group; （b） vehicle group, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and received vehicle intraperitoneally; （c-e） baicalin groups, which were subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with baicalin 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The neurological scores were determined at postoperative 1, 3 and 7 d after the treatment. The expression of protease-activated receptor-1 （PAR-1）, PAR-1 mRNA and Caspase-3 were determined using Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT- PCR） analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results： Significant decrease was noted in the neurological score in the baicalin group compared with that of the vehicle group （P〈0.01）. Additionally, down-regulation of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 and Caspase-3 was observed in the baicalin groups compared with those obtained from the vehicle group （P〈0.01）. Compared with the low-dose baicalin group （25 mg/kg）, remarkable decrease was noted in neurological score, and the expression of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 as well as Caspase-3 in the high-dose group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Baicalin showed neuro-protective effects in focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury through inhibiting the expression of PAR-1 and apoptosis.
