title: [Apoptosis and caspase-3 in the model of rat silicosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the changes of apoptosis of cells in the lung tissue of rats with silica instillation and to its significance in silicosis, and to clarify the role of caspase-3 in the apoptosis progress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into saline control groups and silica instillation groups, and the silicosis model was established in rats. Flow cytometry was used for detecting the rate of apoptosis at various stages. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of cleaved caspase-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model of rat silicosis was established successfully. The apoptosis rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and was increased with time. Caspase-3 was mainly expressed in alveolar epithelium cells, pulmonary macrophages and infiltrated inflammation cells. The expression of caspase-3 in the experimental group was stronger than that in the control group, but its expression intensity was not related to the cell apoptosis (r = 0.215, P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The apoptosis of the lung cells plays an important role during rat silicosis genesis. Caspase-3 plays an important role in regulating cell apoptosis during rat silicosis genesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya-hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: De-yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012829:Silicosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases