doi:10.1016/j.cellbi.2005.12.012 
Copyright © 2006 International Federation for Cell Biology Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Effects of Ginkgolide on the development of NOS and AChE positive neurons in the embryonic basal forebrain
Guo-Hua Jina, 
, 
, Zhen Huanga, Xue-Feng Tana, Mei-Ling Tiana, Xin-Hua Zhanga, Jian-Bing Qina, Hui-Jun Xua, D.T. Yewb and Y.T. Makb
aDepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
bDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Received 22 June 2005;
revised 24 September 2005;
accepted 10 December 2005.
Available online 23 May 2006.
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Abstract
Extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) has been therapeutically used for several decades to increase peripheral and cerebral blood flow so as to prevent cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases. However, the role of EGb in neuroprotective effects has received much attention recently. In this study, we investigated the effect of EGb on the development of NOS and AChE positive neurons in the rat embryonic basal forebrain. The results showed that treated with EGb, the OD of MTT staining analysis, and the numbers, the cell sizes and circumferences of NOS and AChE positive neurons were greatly promoted. These data suggest that EGb had similar effects of the neurotrophins such as NGF and BDNF in promoting the development of NOS and AChE positive neurons in the rat embryonic basal forebrain.
Keywords: EGb; Embryonic basal forebrain; NOS positive neurons; AChE positive neurons; Rat
Fig. 1. More NOS positive neurons with larger cell bodies, longer processes and more branches in the Ginkgo group (A). A larger number of NOS positive neurons with slight smaller cell bodies, longer processes and fewer branches in the NGF group (B). More NOS positive neurons with large cell bodies, longer processes and richer branches in the BDNF group (C). Fewer NOS positive neurons with small cell bodies, short processes and fewer branches in the control group (D). In the Ginkgo group, the larger cell bodies' AChE positive neurons with longer and richer neuritis (E). In the NGF group, the smaller cell bodies' AChE positive neurons with longer neurites and fewer branches (F). In the BDNF group, the large cell bodies' AChE positive neurons with long and rich neuritis (G). In the control group, the small cell bodies' AChE positive neurons with short neurites and fewer branches (H). Magnification bar represents 40 μm, bar in (A).
Table 1.
The optical density (OD) values (x ± s) from MTT colorimetric analysis of the four groups of embryonic basal forebrain cell culture on day 18
**p < 0.01 as compared with the control group; #p < 0.05 as compared with the NGF group.
Table 2.
NOS positive neurons count, cell area and circumference (x ± s) of the four groups of embryonic basal forebrain cell culture on day 18
**p < 0.01 as compared with the control group; ##p < 0.01 as compared with the NGF group.
Table 3.
AChE positive neurons count, cell area and circumference (x ± s) of the four groups of embryonic basal forebrain cell culture on day 18
**p < 0.01 as compared with the control group; ##p < 0.01 as compared with the NGF group; #p < 0.05 as compared with the NGF group; and †p < 0.05 as compared with the BDNF group.
Abstract
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