Impacts of hyperbaric oxygen on Bcl-2 protein expression in hippocampal neurons in rats

Yizhan CAO; Guanghui JI; Xing JIN; Boliang WANG; Yuexia ZHONG; Jinsheng LI; Qingbo LI

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) is the first choice in the treatment of acute carbon monoxide(CO) poisoning. However,the mechanism of HBO in the treatment of CO poisoning,especially the mechanism in the treatmentof CO poisoning-induced delayed encephalopathy,is unclear at present.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the pathological changes of hippocampal neurons in rats after acute CO poisoning to investigate the impacts of HBO therapy on Bcl-2 protein expression in hippocampal neurons in rats after CO poisoning.

DESIGN:

A completely randomized controlled experimental study based on the experimental animals.

SETTING:

Emergency department in a military medical university of Chinese PLA affiliated hospital,department of laboratory medicine in a municipal hospital,and the center of HBO therapy in a military medical university of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS The study was conducted in the Laboratory of HBO Therapy Center,Faculty of Aerospace Medicine,the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Sixty male SD rats were selected.

INTERVENTIONS:

Sixty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups normal control group(control group),CO poisoning group(CO group),and HBO therapy group(HBO group) with 20 rats each. Rats of each group were exposed under air or CO gas(volume fraction was 3.2 × 10-3) respectively for 60 minutes,and rats of CO-HBO group were treated by HBO. Cerebral pathological slices of hippocampus were prepared for routine HE and Bcl-2 staining to observe the characteristics of the changes of hippocampal neuronal injury and the Bcl-2protein expression on the 1st,3rd,5th and 7th day after CO poisoning.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Changes of pathomorphology and Bcl-2protein expression

RESULTS:

It could be seen lot of degenerated and necrotic neurons in hippocampus of rats in CO group. Degenerated and necrotic neurons decreased and the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased in CO-HBO group,especially on the 3rd and 5th day after poisoning( P ＜ 0. 05).

CONCLUSION:

HBO therapy can promote Bcl-2 protein expression in hippocampus after acute CO poisoning,so it can protect neurons.