Effects of Melatonin on hippocampal neuron apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in epileptic rats / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of Melatonin on hippocampal neuron apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in epileptic rats. Methods Using model of status epilepticus (SE) induced by Pilocarpine, the rats were administered with melatonin (melatonin group) or saline (Pilocarpine group) before Pilocarpine injection. The apoptotic neuron was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 expression was observed by immunocytochemistry method, respectively.Results In Pilocarpine group, the number of TUNEL positive neurons began to increase at 6 h post-SE, peaked at 72 h post-SE, and decreased at 7 d post-SE. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity began to increase at 6 h post-SE, peaked at 48 h post-SE, especially in CA1 and CA3 region of hippocampus, began to decrease at 72 h post-SE and dropped to normal level at 7 d post-SE. The numbers of TUNEL positive neurons and caspase-3 expression in Melatonin group were significantly decreased compared to Pilocarpine group at different time points (all P