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Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, is one of the most commonly used healing herbs for stroke and chronic debilitating conditions in China. Ginsenosides are the main active principles for ginseng''s efficacy, but the mechanisms have not been fully clarified. Aim of the study: To test the hypothesis whether or not the administration of Ginseng total saponins (GTS) can enhance neurogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia, and thereby improve neurological deficits. Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injections of GTS dissolved at a dose of 25mgkg−1 d−1 or normal saline (NS) of same volume 3 days before the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model establishment until the animals were killed at the time points of 1d, 3d, 7d and 14d. The neurological function was assessed blindly. BrdU immunostaining and double staining were performed by following the 3-steps method. Results: (A) GTS-treated rats have better neurological scores compared with those in NS group at 14d time point (p <0.05); (B) the number of BrdU+ cells and BrdU+/NeuN+ cells in GTS group were significantly higher than those in NS group in the ipsilateral subventricular zone and in the ipsilateral infarct area after MCAO, respectively (p <0.05 or p <0.01); (C) the increase of the number of BrdU+/NeuN+ cells highly correlated with the decrease of neurological scores. Coefficient correlation r =−0.828 (p <0.01). Conclusion: GTS can improve neurological deficits after focal cerebral ischemia by inducing endogenous neural stem cells activation and thereby enhance adult central nervous system regeneration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a key molecule for maintaining water and ion homeostasis associated with neuronal activity in the central nervous system, but the roles of AQP4 in adult neurogenesis remain largely unexplored. Based on preliminary evidences over the past years, AQP4 appears to emerge as an important player regulating the multiple steps of adult neurogenesis. In this mini-review, we discuss the recent findings that reveal a specific functional role of AQP4 in regulating the adult neurogenesis, including proliferation of neural progenitors/neural stem cells, fate specification and differentiation, neuronal migration, and the potential mechanisms. Further studies on the regulation of AQP4 in promoting neurogenesis will lead to better understanding of the signaling mechanisms of adult neurogenesis and potentially provide an opportunity to develop AQP4 as new drug target for neurogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]