Objective: To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHWD) with different doses of Astragalus membranaceus on the proliferation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone(SVZ) of the lateral ventricle after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Method: Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 90 min using the intraluminal filament model. BYHWD with different doses of A. membranaceus (120

60

30

15 g

respectively

orally) and bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU

50 mg·kg-1

ip) were treated on day 1 after ischemia once a day for 14 days. The modified neurological severity score(mNSS) and the corner test were used to evaluate sensorimotor function on 1

7

14 days after ischemia. BrdU/Nestin positive cells were examined by double immunofluorescence on 14 days after ischemia. Result: Compared with the model group

BYHWD with A. membranaceus (120

60 g) significantly ameliorated neurological dysfunction and reduced the number of right turn on 7

14 days after ischemia(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The number of BrdU/Nestin positive cells in SVZ was significantly enhanced on 14 days after ischemia. Conclusion: BYHWD with higher dose of A. membranaceus improves the proliferation of neural stem cells in SVZ and neurological function recovery following focal cerebral ischemia

the effect of 120 g A. membranaceus is the best.