An immunohistochemical study on COX-1 and COX-2 following traumatic brain Injury in rats / 中国法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective The time-dependent changes of COX-1 and COX-2 following the experimental brain contusion were studied for the purpose of extrapolation of the molecular mechanism and timing of brain contusion.Methods Male SD rats were divided into normal control,sham-operated control and contusion groups.The animal model of cerebral contusion was established by impact to the parietal lobe with a free fall weight.The time-dependent changes of COX-1 and COX-2 were detected at 1d,3d,5d,7d,14d post-injury by immunohistochemical SP method.Results In comparison with the control,COX-1 and COX-2 were faintly expressed in the brain of the control groups.Expression of COX-1 was gradually elevated in the cortex of the brain from 1d to 5d after contusion,which was sustained at a high level up to 14d postinjury.Expression of COX-2 was gradually increased in the cortex of the brain from 1d to 3d after injury,which peaked in the hippocampus at 1d after contusion.Conclusion It is suggested that brain contusion may induce the expressions of the COX-1 and COX-2,and the time-dependent changes of COX-1 and COX-2 may be applicable to the wound age estimation of cerebral contusion in forensic practice.