Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction on cerebral tissue water content, blood-brain barrier permeability and neurological defects in rats with ischemic stroke.Methods Unilateral carotid artery ligation was performed in male and female rats randomly assigned to 4 groups, including sham surgery,surgery, surgery+Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction, surgery+Nimodipine. Brain water content was determined by dry weight and wet weight measurement. Neurological defects were tested using Garcia Neurological Deficit Scores.Blood brain barrier permeability was assessed by Evans blue tracer.Results Compared with sham group(36.20±1.24)%, surgery induced modest increase in brain tissue water content 24 h post ligation, with significant increase occurred 72 h post ligation(54.40±2.16)%. Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction and Nimodipine did not affect brain water content 24 h post surgery, but significantly reduced brain water content 72 h post surgery ［(42.30±1.12)% and(43.20±1.23)% for Chinese decoction and Nimodipine, respectively,P<0.01］. Data derived from Garcia Neurological Deficit Scores and Evans blue tracer suggested that both Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction and Nimodipine significantly could improve neurological defects and reduce blood brain barrier permeability at 72 h post surgery(P<0.01).Conclusion Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction exerts protective effects against acute ischemic stroke-induced brain injury in rats.

Key words: Qingrehuatanjiedu decoction, brain tissue water content in ischemic stroke, neurological functional defect score, blood brain barrier permeability