The study on the expression of caspase-3 in experimental brain contusion in rats / 法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of caspase-3 in different posttraumatic intervals and severity of brain injury.@*METHODS@#The study examined brain tissue samples of slight (n = 24), severe (n = 24) brain injury and control (n = 6) of rat, using immunohistochemical staining, western-blot and RT-PCR method.@*RESULTS@#Up-regulating of caspase-3 expression was found in tissue from traumatic brain injury compared with controls in early 1 hour after TBI, and lasted for 14 days. The gray degree and threshold area of caspase-3 positive cells is different in different severity of brain injury.@*CONCLUSION@#The increasing of caspase-3 expression indicates that TBI exists. The gray degree, threshold area of caspase-3 positive cells and the cleavage degree of pro-caspase-3 have association with the severity of brain injury.