Naoxueshu Oral Liquid Attenuates Early Radiation-Induced Brain Injury in Rats.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Naoxueshu Oral Liquid on rats with radiation-induced brain injury.

METHODS

A total of 108 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a control group, an irradiated + normal saline group (RBI+NS), and an irradiated + Naoxueshu Oral Liquid group (RBI+NXS). A radiation-induced brain injury model was established by single-dose whole-brain high-energy X-ray irradiation (30 Gy). After irradiation, rats received Naoxueshu Oral Liquid (0.5 mL/100 g/day, gavage) or normal saline for 14 days. Body weight was monitored, cerebral edema was assessed by brain tissue water content on Days 3, 7, and 14, histopathology was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and Morris water maze training was conducted from Day 8 to Day 13 post-irradiation, followed by the probe trial on Day 14 post-irradiation.

RESULTS

Body weight differed significantly among groups after irradiation (Day 3/6/9/12: all p < 0.01). Specifically, at Day 12, body weight was 328.17±20.10 g (control), 258.50±18.87 g (RBI+NS), and 302.83 ± 10.87 g (RBI+NXS); RBI+NXS was higher than RBI+NS (p < 0.01), while control versus RBI+NS remained different (p < 0.01). H&E staining showed widened perineuronal and perivascular spaces after irradiation, which were attenuated by Naoxueshu. In the Morris water maze, RBI+NS rats exhibited prolonged latency and fewer platform crossings; these impairments were improved after Naoxueshu treatment.

CONCLUSION

Naoxueshu Oral Liquid reduced cerebral edema and improved Morris water maze performance in rats after whole-brain irradiation. Because behavioral outcomes were assessed only using the Morris water maze, the cognitive-related findings should be interpreted cautiously.