[Brain injury in adenosine A1 receptor knock-out mice after pentetrazole kindling and its correlation with COX-2].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the brain injury of neurocytes in hippocampus of adenosine A1 receptor knock-out mice during pentetrazole kindling and detect the correlation of brain injury and the expression of COX-2 so as to evaluate the neuroprotective function of adenosine A1 receptor and its mechanism.


METHODS
The animals were divided into two groups: wild type group and KO group. The kindling model was established by injection of pentetrazole into abdominal cavity. The expression of brain injury related protein, caspase-3 and COX-2 in hippocampus was investigated separately at different time points (24 hour, 1 month) post-kindling.


RESULTS
The expression of Caspase-3 and COX-2 increased in KO group both during acute and chronic phases post-kindling compared with normal mice. There was statistical difference (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression levels of two proteins were higher at 1 month compared with 24 hour (P < 0.01). These results indicated that the increased expression of Caspase-3 and COX-2 post-kindling was earlier and much more in KO mice as compared with wild-type ones.


CONCLUSIONS
Adenosine exerts strong neuroprotective functions through the activation of adenosine A1 receptor. This receptor reduces cell apoptosis during pentetrazole kindling. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) reflects the extent of brain injury. The neuroprotective function mediated by adenosine A1 receptor might be related with COX-2.
Kang
Hui-cong
HC
Neurology Department of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan 430030, China.
Xu
Feng
F
Liu
Xiao-yan
XY
Hu
Qi
Q
Liu
Yan
Y
Tang
Kun
K
Li
Xiang
X
Wang
Yuan
Y
Liu
Zhi-guang
ZG
Zhu
Sui-qiang
SQ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053148:Caspase 3; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole