Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect and possible mechanism of sodium Danshensu(SDSS) against pressure injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight rats each: control group, model group, 10 mg/kg SDSS-treated group, 20 mg/kg SDSS-treated group, and 40 mg/kg SDSS-treated group. We used two round ferrite magnetic plates of 15 mm diameter and 3 mm thickness to establish stage 2 pressure injury model rats. Each rat was subjected to five cycles of ischemia and reperfusion to induce pressure injury.One cycle consisted of 2 h of ischemia and 0.5 h of reperfusion, which meant that each cycle included2 h of pressure and 0.5 h of pressure relief. The outline of the wound was delineated by butter paper and marker pen, and histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.In addition, the number of apoptotic cells and the activity of caspase-3 were assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling and caspase-3 assay kits, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-regulatory proteins and inflammatory mediators was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS: Results showed that treatment with SDSS for 7 d after establishing the pressure injury model remarkably improved the healing rate of the wound. SDSS also inhibited the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, myeloperoxidase, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1; decreased the number of apoptotic cells; increased the ratio of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X(Bax); and regulated the expression and activity of caspase-3.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SDSS exhibits a treatment efficacy for pressure injury caused by I/R injury possibly by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammatory response.

Key words: Danshensu, apoptosis, anti-inflammatory agents, reperfusion injury, pressure ulcer, wounds and injuries