Involvement of caspase-3 in hypoxia-ischemia-induced brain da mage in the newborn rat / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To explore the expression of caspase -3 (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase) in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex a nd hippocampal after hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS: Sham and hypoxia-ischemia (HI) groups were set up. The neonatal HI procedure was performed in 7-day-old rat pups. The double-lateral co rtex and hippocampal was subjected to pathological assessment, immunohistochemic al staining with caspase-3 antibody and half-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerization chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the change in caspase-3 pr otein and mRNA expression. RESULTS: Caspase-3 mRNA in ipsilateral cerebral cortex and hippo campal increased immediately after HI followed by a partial recovery. Thereafter caspase-3 mRNA and protein simultaneously increased with a maximum reached at 2 4-48 h after HI. CONCLUSION: Caspase-3 may play a key role in the development of apoptotic hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in immature rats. Neuroprotective medicine should be used before 24-48 h after HI.