ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the morphology alterations and proteomics changes in primary astrocytes following fluid percussion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary cultures of astrocytes were prepared from cerebral hemispheres of 1-3 d-old SD rats, then, astrocytes were randomly divided into control group and injury group which were subjected to (0.2 +/- 0.01) MPa fluid percussion injury. The changes of protein expression pattern in astrocytes between injury and control groups were monitored with two dimensional gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Astrocytes' s abnonmalities of morphology after injury were apparent. The fluid percussion injury caused astrocytes edema, shrinkage, cell junction disconnection and necrosis at 2 h after injury. 24 h and 48 h after injury, most part of astrocytes's dendrites and soma became hypertrophy and showed a higher rate of cell proliferation. The dynamic proteomics changes were identified and total different 13 spots were detected in this study from the 2DE gels. The different displayed 5 spots were identified via MALDI-TOF: cofilin 1, destrin, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 alpha subcomplex 10, annexin 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The obvious alteration of morphology and protein expression pattern in primary cultured astrocytes could be induced after fluid percussion injury. The differential proteins detected were probably related to stress responses.</p>