title: [Experimental study on protective effects of dexamethasone on traumatic brain injury in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes of NF-kappaB in brain tissue after the treatment of naloxone in rats with traumatic brain injury, and to explore the protective effects and its mechanisms of dexamethasone on TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat model of severe brain injury was produced by gas percussion. The histopathological changes of brain tissue were observed by HE stain. The expression of NF-kappaB in brain tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After traumatic brain injury, the expression of NF-kappaB in rat brain tissue significantly increased at 6 h (P<0.05) and reached the peak value at 48 h, then the increased level of NF-kappaB lower down slightly and maintained at quite high level to 120 h after TBI (P<0.01). With the treatment of dexamethasone, the expression level of NF-kappaB decreased significantly (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexamethasone showed protective effects by regulating the levels of NF-kappaB and relieved the second injury caused by the inflammatory cytokines in rat brain tissue after TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone