Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on cytochrome C, Bcl-2 and Bax expression after experimental traumatic brain injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the neuronal apoptosis at an earlier stage and the expressions of Cytochrome C (Cyt C), Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2 family) and Bax (Bcl-2 associated X protein) in rat brain tissues after traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Forty adult rats were divided into two groups, i.e., Group A (the rats with untreated TBI) and Group B (rats with HBO treatment after TBI). Sections of brain tissues of these two groups were then detected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 hours after TBI by immunohistochemistry and electronmicroscope, respectively.


RESULTS
HBO treatment could up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 within 72 hours, reduce the release of Cyt C from mitochondria, attenuate the formation of dimeric Bax and alleviate the mitochondrial edema within 24 hours after TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
HBO treatment can alleviate neuronal apoptosis after TBI by reducing the release of Cyt C and the dimers of Bax and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2.
Liu
Zhan
Z
Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Jiao
Qing-fang
QF
You
Chao
C
Che
Yan-jun
YJ
Su
Fang-zhong
FZ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D045304:Cytochromes c