Effects of heat stress on the expression of skeleton protein and heat-shock protein in mice cortex neuron / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the morphological changes of mice cortex neuron cultured in vitro under different temperature, and the expression of skeleton protein (?-tubulin) in the neuron, and to study the relationship between ?-tubulin and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Methods The cerebral cortex neuron of embryonic mice was cultured in vitro. The cultured neuron was put in different temperature 7 days later. To observe the morphological changes of the neuron using optical microscope and the changes of the expression of ?-tubulin and HSP70 under different temperature using laser scanning confocal images. Results Optical microscopy indicated that drifting cells increased, and neural network became sparse in 38℃; some cells necrosed in 39℃; most cells necrosed, cell broke to pieces, axons drifted or disappeared in 42℃. Results of laser scanning confocal images indicated that after hyperthermia the fluorescence intensity of ?-tubulin was lower than that of controls, and the fluorescence intensity declined as the temperature elevated. The fluorescence intensity of HSP70 showed a bell-shape distribution curve, i.e. the highest value emerged at 39℃, whereas the lower values appeared at 37℃ and 42℃. Conclusion Heat stress leaded to the morphological changes of neuron. The disordered of skeleton protein may be responsible for the changes and HSP70 may take part in the process.