RESUMO
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) at different intervals and to provide evidence for estimation on injury intervals after brain contusion in human.@*METHODS@#Twenty-four patients died of serious brain injury were assigned as injury group and 4 patients died of non-brain injury were served as control group. HO-1 expression was analyzed in brain tissue at different time intervals (3 h, 6-9 h, 12-24 h, 36 h-3d, 5-8d, 17-20d) by immunohistochemistry and auto-image analysis system.@*RESULTS@#The level of HO-1 expression started to increase in 3 h after brain contusion compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The level of HO-1 expression highest level in 12-24 h group, and maintained high level in 36 h-3 d, then decreased gradually.@*CONCLUSION@#The expression of HO-1 might be a strong evidence for human brain contusion time estimation.