Celecoxib down-regulates Apaf-1 protein expression for promoting learning and mem craniocerebral traumaory function recovery after in rats / 重庆医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effect of celecoxib on learning and memory function,cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and the apoptotic protease-activating factor-1(Apaf-1) protein expression after traumatic brain injury in rat.Methods A total of 72 adult male Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into the normal control group,sham operation group,trauma group and Celecoxib treatment group.Postoperative 72 h-reperfusion was performed for taking brain specimens.The immunohistochemical method and Western blot were used to respectively detect COX-2 and Apaf-1 protein expression change;the Morris water maze test was adopted to detect the learning and memory function on preoperative 5 d and at postoperative 72 h.Results The COX-2 and Apaf-1 protein expression in the trauma group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P＜0.05),and the protein expression in the treatment group and trauma group was decreased,but still higher than that in the sham operation group and normal group(P＜ 0.05);in the Morris water maze test,the prolongation of escape latency time in the trauma group was maximal among 4 groups (P ＜0.05),but the treatment group had a shorter time compared with the trauma group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Craniocerebral trauma can cause different degrees of learning and memory dysfunction,and COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib can downregulate the expression of COX-2 and Apaf-1 protein,inhibit inflammation reaction and cellular apoptosis,and improve the learning and memory dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.