Neuronal apoptosis and the change of apoptosis-related proteins in ovariectomied rats and the effect of App17-mer peptide / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To observe the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in hippocampal neurons of (ovariectomized) (OVX) rats and explore the neuroprotective mechanism of the App17-mer peptide. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Bilaterally ovariectomized rats with injection of App 17P peptide (3.5 ?g in 0.1 mL/per rat, three times a week) formed the experimental group (17P+ OVX group). Anti-AIF, Bcl-2 and Bax antibodies were applied in the immunohistochemistry experiment. TUNEL was employed to detect apoptosis. RESULTS: The number of apoptotic neurons was clearly higher in hippocampal and cortex in OVX group than that in OVX+17P group. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the increased expression of AIF, Bax in hippocampal neurons of OVX group. OVX group showed a significantly reduced expression of Bcl-2 in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampal tissue from OVX group showed the increased expression of AIF, Bax, and showed diminished expression of Bcl-2, treating with App17-mer peptide normalized the expression of these proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of apoptosis-related proteins were abnormal in the OVX rats, App17-mer peptide normalized these changes. Estrogen deficiency induced neuronal apoptosis, and App17-mer peptide diminished apoptosis.