ABSTRACT
Objective To detect time-dependent change of neuritin expression in brain tissues after traumatic brain injury and discuss the effect of neuritin after brain damage occurred. Methods Forty-two rats were divided into normal group, control and experimental group. According to the postoperative time divided into 6 subgroups, including 6 hours group, 12 hours group, 24 hours group, 3 days group, 7 days group and 14 days group. Immunohistochemical and western-blot were used to detected the protein expression levels of neuritin. Results The immunohistochemical staining indicated that the positive expression of neuritin was strong in the cytomembrane and cytoplasms of the neurons, with a higher intensity, 6 hours after the operation. 12 hours after the operation last to the seventh day, the neurons with the strongest positive expression, is significantly higher than control group and normal group, significant decrease on the fourteenth day. The result of western-blot indicated that the level of neuritin protein sharply increased at 6 hours, reached the peak on 24 hours and after lasted to the seventh day, significantly higher than control group and normal group (P < 0.01), significant decrease on the fourteenth day (P < 0.05). Conclusion Up-regulation of neuritin in cerebral contusion tissues may play an important role after traumatic brain injury.