Changes of fibrinogen in a mouse model of radiation-induced brain injury / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preliminary findings have shown that radiation can impair the mouse blood-brain barrier, which is a cause of secondary brain injury. However, there is little information concerning radiation effects on fibrinogen in plasma and fibrinogen deposition in brain tissue. OBJECTIVE: To establish the mouse model of radiation-induced brain injury, to observe the changes of fibrinogen in plasma and brain tissue, and to further understand the mechanism of radiation-induced brain injury. METHODS: Fifty Kunming mice were randomly divided into irradiation and control groups (n=25 per group). Irradiation group rats were irradiated by 60Co γ, 10 Gy, once every other day, and the total dose was 30 Gy. Learning and memory abilities were tested by Morris Water Maze before and after irradiation, the content of fibrinogen in plasma was detected, then fibrinogen in CA3 region of the hippocampus was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the ultrastructural changes of the blood-brain barrier were investigated under transmission electron microscope . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, the swimming time and distance of the irradiated mice were reduced in the target quadrant (P＜ 0.05), while fibrinogen was increased in plasma (P＜ 0.001) and deposited in hippocampal CA3 region. The translucent zone around the basement membrane of blood-brain barrier in the irradiation group was observed under electron microscope. These results suggest that irradiation can increase fibrinogen in plasma and brain, and the fibrinogen deposited in the brain may be the cause of secondary brain injury.