Expression of heme oxygenase-1 protein and messenger RNA in permanent cerebral ischemia in rats.
BACKGROUND
Carbon monoxide has been regarded as a gaseous molecular messenger like nitric oxide.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the role of heme oxygenase-1 in the permanent cerebral ischemia at the protein and mRNA level.


METHODS
The expression of heme oxygenase-1 protein and messenger RNA was investigated at different time points following MCAO using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, RT-PCR, and Northern blotting.


RESULTS
Increased HO 1immunoreactivity was detected in hippocampal and cortical neurons after 1 hour of ischemia, and was also observed in astroglial cells. After 12 hours of ischemia, HO-1 was found in both neurons and glia in cerebral cortex and thalamus, and in striatal glia cells. Western blotting analysis show the expression of HO-1 protein in cortical neurons reached the peak after 12 hours of occlusion and decreased gradually, but was still detected at day 7 post-occlusion. The expression of messenger RNA was examined in the brains of rats subjected to permanent cerebral ischemia by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blotting. HO-1 mRNA transcription could be detected 1 hour after occlusion. After 1 to 6 hours of occlusion, the expression of HO-1 rose rapidly, reaching a peak at 12 hours post-occlusion, decreased gradually, and lasted until day 7 of occlusion. Although HO activity of cerebral tissue can be detected in both sham-operated group and operated groups, the HO activity in operated groups is much stronger than that in sham-operated group.


CONCLUSIONS
The induction of HO-1 protein may protect cerebral tissues from ischemic damage.
Fu
Rong
R
Neurosurgery Department, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. furongLP@yahoo.com.cn
Zhao
Zhong Qiu
ZQ
Zhao
Hong Yang
HY
Zhao
Jia Shan
JS
Zhu
Xian Li
XL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013997:Time Factors
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C009591:triphenyltetrazolium; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1