Sequential changes of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha in experimental spinal cord injury and its significance.
OBJECTIVE
To study the sequential changes of HIF-1alpha (hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha) in experimental spinal cord injury in rats and to analyze its potential effects in SCI.


METHODS
A static compression model of SCI was employed in this study. Expressions of HIF-1alpha were measured with immunohistochemical staining, while flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptotic ratio and bcl-2 expressions.


RESULTS
HIF-1alpha began to increase 1 day after injury, and reached the peak at 3-7 days. Two weeks later, it declined significantly. The sequential changes of HIF-1alpha coincided well with the alterations of apoptotic ratio and contents of bcl-2.


CONCLUSIONS
HIF-1alpha possibly participates in the secondary ischemic and hypoxic procedures after spinal cord injury, and may mediate the traumatic apoptosis. Further understanding of HIF-1alpha may provide new therapeutic regimens for SCI.
Ju
Yan
Y
Neurosurgery Department of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengd u 610041, China. jvyan@sina.com
He
Min
M
Mao
Boyong
B
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011336:Probability; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497444:Hif1a protein, rat; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014157:Transcription Factors