Spatial metabolic modulation in vascular dementia by Erigeron breviscapus injection using ambient mass spectrometry imaging.

Background: Vascular dementia (VaD), a significant cognitive disorder, is caused by reduced cerebral blood flow. Unraveling the metabolic heterogeneity and reprogramming in VaD is essential for understanding its molecular pathology and developing targeted therapies. However, the in situ metabolic regulation within the specific brain regions affected by VaD has not been thoroughly investigated, and the therapeutic mechanisms of Erigeron breviscapus injection (EBI), a traditional Chinese medicine, require further elucidation.

Purpose: To investigate the region-specific metabolic alterations in a VaD rat model, explore the therapeutic effects of EBI at a microregional level, identify the key metabolic pathways and metabolites involved in VaD, and elucidate how EBI modulates these pathways to exert its therapeutic effects.

Methods: Air-flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI), a novel technique, was employed to investigate the metabolic changes in the brain microregions. We used a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion model to induce VaD in rats. Network analysis and network pharmacology were used to assess the local metabolic effects of the EBI treatment (3.6 mL/kg/day for 2 weeks).

Results: The EBI treatment significantly ameliorated the neurological deficits in VaD rats. AFADESI-MSI revealed 31 key metabolites with significant alterations in the VaD model, particularly within the pathways related to neurotransmitter metabolism, redox homeostasis, and osmoregulation. The metabolic disturbances were primarily observed in the striatum (ST), pyriform cortex (PCT), hippocampus (HP), and other critical brain regions. The EBI treatment effectively reversed these metabolic imbalances, especially in neurotransmitter metabolism, suggesting its potential in mitigating VaD-related cognitive decline.

Conclusion: Our findings not only shed light on the molecular underpinnings of VaD but also highlight the potential of EBI as a therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, this study demonstrates the power of advanced mass spectrometry imaging techniques in phytomedicine, offering new insights into the spatial metabolic changes induced by botanical treatments.