Association of HIF-1alpha expression and cell apoptosis after traumatic brain injury in the rat.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and the correlation between HIF-1alpha and apoptosis after traumatic brain injury.


METHODS
Using experimental traumatic brain injury in the rats, the expression of HIF-1alpha was studied by immunohistochemistry in cerebral tissue, apoptotic cell death was evaluated with TUNEL (transferase-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling), and double-labeled immunohistochemistry and TUNEL methods were used to investigate the relationship between HIF-1alpha and apoptosis.


RESULTS
There was remarkable difference in the expression of H IF-1alpha between the experimental groups and the control groups (P<0.01), in the experimental groups, the expression of HIF-1alpha at 48 hours was highest; the evidence of apoptotic cell death after experimental traumatic brain injury was found by TUNEL; the apoptotic percentage increased or decreased according to the changes of the positive expression of HIF-1alpha (r=0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that secondary brain ischemia plays a crucial role in apoptotic cell death after traumatic brain injury; HIF-1alpha can prompt apoptotic cell death after experimental traumatic brain injury.
Yu
R
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, China.
Gao
L
L
Jiang
S
S
Guan
P
P
Mao
B
B
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014157:Transcription Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors