title: Role of Caspase 3 in neuronal apoptosis after acute brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the role of Caspase 3 in neuronal apoptosis after acute brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiments were carried out with rat diffuse brain trauma model. The neuronal DNA injury in cortex and hippocampus was observed by TUNEL stain. The mRNA and protein expressions and enzyme activation of Caspase 3 were observed by Northern blot, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry stain and Western blot, respectively. Special Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor was used to observe the therapeutic effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TUNEL positive neurons appeared 2 hours after severe trauma, peaked at 1 day and lasted for 7 days. Northern blot showed that the Caspase 3 mRNA expression was increased and peaked at 1 day, about twice higher than the control. In the area of cortex and hippocampus, positive mRNA staining neurons appeared most distinct on one day. With the antibody for Caspase 3 P20 subunit, the active Caspase 3 expression peaked at 1-3 days. The electrophoresis band of PARP degradation would be seen by Western blot. Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor could reduce apoptotic neuronal death without any effect on Caspase 3 P20 subunit expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After brain trauma, Caspase 3 mRNA and protein expressions and enzyme activation are enhanced in combination with neuronal apoptosis. Special Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor can apparently decrease the neuronal apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shuyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jianning
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases