[Expression of caspase - 1 after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of caspase-1 mRNA in the cerebral cortex after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD) in neonatal rats.


METHODS
One hundred and twelve 7-day-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control group, HIBD 3 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 6 days and 14 days groups (n=16 in each group), and standardized HIBD was given. In each group, 8 rats were used to assess the mRNA expression of caspase-1 in cerebral cortex by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase reaction, and another 8 rats were used to study histological changes with hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.


RESULTS
The expression of caspase-1 mRNA was observed in the cerebral cortex in both control and HIBD groups. After HIBD, the level of caspase-1 mRNA in ischemic cortex began to increase at 24 hours (P<0.01 vs. controls), peaked at 6 days (P<0.01 vs. other groups) and decreased at 14 days. Histological study showed that the degenerated and necrotic neurons were increased progressively from 1 day to 6 days after HIBD, together with proliferation of glial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased expression of caspase-1 mRNA after HIBD, which was consistent with the time frame of the development of brain injury, indicates that it might play an important role in pathogenesis of HIBD in neonatal rats.
Chu
Gui-lan
GL
Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China.
Xin
Yue
Y
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020170:Caspase 1