The Department of Naturally Occurring Drugs and Chemistry, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (Shenyang, China) provided DSS (C15H907SNa) as a white crystalline powder, with a purity of >99%. The chemical structures of daidzein and DSS are shown in Fig. 1.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (250–280 g, n=240) were purchased from Hunan Silaike Jingda Laboratory Animal Co., Ltd. (Changsha, China). The rats were maintained on a 12-h light and dark cycle, allowed free access to food and water, and allowed to adapt to laboratory conditions for 7 days before the experiment.

All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Gannan Medical College, and conducted according to the National Institutes of Health guidelines.

The rats were anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate (350 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), and a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established according to the methods of Longa et al (23). A 4-cm long, 0.2-mm in diameter nylon thread was slowly inserted anteriorly towards the direction of the internal carotid artery, through an incision in the common carotid artery trunk. The common carotid artery bifurcation was labeled. After inserting the thread for 18–20 mm, a slight resistance was felt, indicating that the tiny anterior cerebral artery had been reached. The blood supply of the middle cerebral artery was blocked for 1 h. The nylon thread was then pulled out, and the arterial stump was tied. Subcutaneous tissue and skin were sutured. In the sham surgery group, the common carotid artery, external carotid artery, and internal carotid artery were exposed and isolated. The middle cerebral artery was not occluded. During surgery, room temperature was maintained at 23–25°C.

The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (8 rats per group) as follows: sham surgery, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (model group), low-dose daidzein sulfonate sodium (0.5 mg/kg), moderate-dose daidzein sulfonate sodium (1.0 mg/kg) and high-dose daidzein sulfonate sodium (2.0 mg/kg). Before being reperfused, the different doses of daidzein sulfonate sodium (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) were administered to the drug treatment groups via the sublingual vein. The sham surgery and model groups were administered physiological saline (0.1 ml/100 g body weight) via the sublingual vein.

Following 1 h of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion in each group, the degree of damage to the nervous system was evaluated using the Longa grade point standard: a score of 0 indicated no neurologic deficit; a score of 1 (failure to extend left forepaw fully) a mild focal neurologic deficit; a score of 2 (circling to the contralateral side) a moderate focal neurologic deficit; a score of 3 (falling to the contralateral side) a severe neurologic deficit; and a score of 4 was represented by no spontaneous walk and unconsciousness.

After the neurological deficit tests, rats were decapitated and their brains, including the cerebellum, lower brain stem and olfactory bulb were removed, washed with normal saline (NS), dried with filter paper and frozen. After freezing, the forebrain was generally contained within the thickness of the 5 brain slices cut along the coronal plane. These sections were incubated in 5 ml of 2% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride solution for 30 min at 37°C in the dark. After staining, non-ischemic regions were colored red, while the infarcted regions were white. The sections were then fixed with 10% formaldehyde. The infarct volume was calculated using a DT-200 image analysis system (Nanjing Dongtu Technology Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China).

BBB permeability was measured according to the Evans blue (EB) content in the brain tissues. After infarct modeling (or DSS administration for DSS groups), the rats were immediately injected with 0.25 ml of EB solution (0.5%, dissolved in NS) via the tail vein. After 24 h, rats were narcotized and then heart perfused with NS. The fore-brain tissue on the ischemic side was then removed, and after weighing, tissues were homogenized in 7.5% trichloroacetic acid (3 ml/g, wet weight). The homogenate was then centrifuged at 12,000 × g at 4°C for 20 min. The optical density (OD) value of the supernatant was read at 620 nm. A calibration curve was set up using a series of EB solution concentrations, with results being indicated by EB brain wet weight (µg).

The rats were narcotized 24 h after MCAO reperfusion, and then internally fixated with 4% paraformaldehyde. The parietal cortex brain tissue on the ischemic side was removed and cut into 1 mm³ cubes, fixated for a further 2 h in a paraformaldehyde-glutaraldehyde solution, and then 2 h in 1% osmic acid at 4°C. After dehydration by methanol gradients, and displacement by epoxypropane, the tissues were embedded and polymerized in polyphenylene sulfide resin. Semi-thin sections were then prepared, stained with methylene blue-azure, and observed under an optical lens. Ultra-thin sections were then stained with both uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and observed under an electron microscope (Hitachi H-7650; Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan).

Following 24 h of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the rats were anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate (3.5 ml/kg, intraperitoneally). A perfusion apparatus filled with 200 ml of NS was immediately inserted into the left ventricle via the left ventricular apex, and administration was continued with 300 ml of 4% paraformaldehyde over a period of 30 min. Brain tissues from the ischemic side were removed and used to prepare paraffin-embedded sections. These sections were incubated in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight, washed with running water for 24 h, soaked in 50% ethanol overnight, then stored in 70% ethanol, followed by 80% ethanol overnight, followed by soaking in 90% ethanol for 1 h, 95% ethanol for 45 min (twice), and 100% ethanol for 45 min (twice). They were then twice-cleared in xylene, for 20 min each time, before infiltration with wax in a drying machine at a temperature of 60°C for 1 h and 1.5 h, respectively. They were then embedded in paraffin, and the paraffin sections were deparaffinized and cut into 4 µm sections, before dewaxing to water. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 were examined using an immunohistochemistry kit (Booster Bioengineering Institute, Wuhan, China) used according to the manufacturer's instructions. The sections were incubated in 3% (v/v) H₂O₂ and washed in distilled water at room temperature for 10 min (3 times) to eliminate endogenous peroxidase activity.

The sections were soaked in 0.01 M citrate buffer solution (pH 6.0) and boiled using a pressure cooker. The sections were then rinsed one to two times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution (pH 7.2–7.6), incubated in 1% bovine serum albumin blocking buffer for 20 min at room temperature, and excess liquids were then shaken off without further washing. The samples were then incubated with an appropriate diluted primary antibody [Bcl-2 (sc-492; dilution, 1:100; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, USA), Bax (sc-526; dilution, 1:100; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.); caspase-3 (9664s; dilution, 1:75; Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Danvers, MA, USA] overnight at 4°C, before washing in PBS solution (pH 7.2–7.6) 3 times, for 2 min each time. They were then incubated for 20 min at 20–37°C with biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG (SABC, SA2002, dilution, 1:100; WuHan Boster Biotechnology Limited Company, Wuhan, China), followed by washing in PBS solution (pH 7.2–7.6) 3 times, for 2 min each time. The sections were incubated with streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC; SA2002; WuHan Boster Biotechnology Limited Company) at 20–37°C for 20 min before washing in PBS solution (pH 7.2–7.6) 4 times, for 5 min each time.

The reagents A, B and C in the DAB color development kit were added to 1 ml distilled water and mixed well. The solution was then added to sections and the reaction was observed under a microscope at room temperature for about 6 min. The sections were then washed in distilled water, stained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, cleared and mounted. Positive cells were identified by yellow-brown granules in the cytoplasm under a light microscope. The percentage of positive neuronal cells was estimated using 10 randomly selected, but representative, high-power visual fields per section.

The total proteins in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion brain were purified, centrifuged, and collected in the supernatant. Proteins were quantified with a bicinchoninic acid assay, separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and transferred onto polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. The membranes were incubated with primary antibodies to Bcl-2 (sc-492; 1:300), Bax (sc-526; 1:300) (both from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) and caspase-3 (9664s; 1:500; Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.) overnight at 4°C. This was followed by incubation with horseradish peroxidase secondary antibodies (1:1,000) for 2 h at 37°C. Images were obtained using a gel image analysis system (Universal Hood II, 721BR04565; Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA) and OD was measured using image lab 3.0 software. The ratio of the OD of the target protein to β-actin was used to represent the relative expression levels of the target proteins.

Data are expressed as the means ± SEM, and were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 5.01 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). The group means were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a Q-test. Comparisons between groups were conducted using paired t-tests. A probability value of P<0.05 was used to determine a significant difference.

The neurological deficits in the rats pre-treated with DSS (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05; Fig. 2).

Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining revealed that after 24 h of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the infarcted areas of the left cerebral hemisphere, which were mainly in the frontal and parietal cortex, the caudate and the putamen, were white. Normal tissues were stained red, with part of the brain tissue in the penumbral area of the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury present as a transition zone of white to red. Compared with the model group, the cerebral infarction volume ratios exhibited obvious reductions in all 3 of the DSS-treated groups (Fig. 3).

As shown in Fig. 4, in comparison with the sham-operated group, BBB permeability and the brain EB content were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.001). The injection of different doses of DSS (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg) resulted in a significantly decreased brain EB content in comparison with the model group. This indicated that DSS attenuated the deterioration of BBB permeability in MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

As shown in Fig. 5, in the sham-operated group, the BBB was intact, with intact endothelium cells and a vascular wall structure. The perivascular astrocytic foot processes and pericytes exhibited no swelling, and the vessel lumen was not affected. In the model group, the perivascular astrocytes exhibited obvious swelling, including cytoplasmic vacuolation, edematous fluid, swelling of perivascular foot processes, separation from basement membranes and narrowing of the lumen. Compared with the model group, the swelling of the astrocytes was significantly attenuated in the 0.5-mg/kg DDS group; the vessel lumen had recovered and blood flow had been restored, although the swelling of the pericytes could still be observed. In the 1.0- and 2.0-mg/kg DDS groups, the swelling of the pericytes and perivascular astrocytes in the BBB had obviously been inhibited, indicating that DSS attenuated MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat BBB (Fig. 5).

Bcl-2-positive yellow-brown granules were observed in the cytoplasm and some nuclei. Bcl-2-positive cells were slightly decreased in number in the model group in comparison with the sham-operated group. Compared with the model group, the number of Bcl-2-positive cells exhibited a significant increase in the DSS-treated groups; the positive cells were also stained more deeply, indicating greater positivity. DSS treatment was shown to upregulate Bcl-2 expression and inhibit apoptosis following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats (Fig. 6).

Bax-positive yellow-brown granules were located in the cytoplasm and some nuclei. Compared with the sham surgery group, the model group exhibited higher numbers of Bax-positive cells, which indicated that the expression of Bax significantly increased following ischemia-reperfusion injury. The number of Bax-positive cells decreased significantly in the DSS-treated groups compared with the model group. The Bax-positive cells were also more lightly stained, indicating less positivity in the DSS-treated groups. DSS treatment decreased the expression of Bax protein, and inhibited cerebral apoptosis following ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats (Fig. 7).

Caspase-3-positive yellow-brown granules were located in the cytoplasm and some nuclei. Compared with the sham surgery group, the model group exhibited a large number of caspase-3-positive cells, which indicated that the expression of caspase-3 significantly increased following ischemia-reperfusion injury. The number of caspase-3-positive cells was significantly lower in the DSS-treated groups in comparison with the model group. The positive cells were only lightly stained, indicating that they were only weakly positive. DSS treatment decreased caspase-3 protein expression, and inhibited cerebral apoptosis following ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats (Fig. 8).

The results of western blot analysis revealed that Bcl-2 expression was significantly reduced in the model group compared with the sham-operated group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was detected in the 1.0- and 2.0-mg/kg DSS-treated groups, compared with the model group (Fig. 9).

The results of western blot analysis revealed that in comparison with the sham-operated group, Bax expression was significantly increased in the model group. A significant decrease in Bax expression was detected in the 1.0- and 2.0-mg/kg DSS-treated groups in comparison with the model group (Fig. 10).

The results western blot analysis revealed that in comparison with the sham-operated group, caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in the model group. A significant decrease in caspase-3 expression was detected in the 1.0- and 2.0-mg/kg DSS-treated groups, compared with the model group (Fig. 11).