title: Inhibition of activated NR2B gene- and caspase-3 protein-expression by glutathione following traumatic brain injury in a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND.: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major cause of death and disability. Oxidative stress is an important element of the injury cascade following TBI. Progressive compromise of antioxidant defenses and free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation are one of the major mechanisms of secondary TBI. NR2B is a glutamate receptor and its activation is caused by TBI increasing a brain cell death, along with caspase-3 as a hall mark of apoptosis. Glutathione is a potent free radical scavenger that might prevent secondary TBI damage and inhibited apoptosis.  MATERIALS AND METHODS.: In the present study, it aims to demonstrate the effect of glutathione on inhibition of brain oxidative damage in a TBI rat model.  RESULTS.: In this study, the expressions of mRNA NR2B in placebo group and groups with glutathione administration at 0, 3, and 6 hours after TBI were 328.14, 229.90, 178.50, and 136.14, respectively (P<0.001). The highest caspase-3 expression was shown in placebo group with 66.7% showing strong positive results (>80%); as expected, glutathione administered in 0, 3, and 6 hours groups had lower strong positive results of 50%, 16.7%, and 16.7%, respectively, (P=0.025).  CONCLUSION.: In conclusion, this study showed that glutathione administration in a TBI rat model decreased NR2B gene- and caspase-3 protein-expression that lead to the inhibition of brain cell death. Our results suggest that glutathione, as a potent free radical scavenger, has a brain cell protective effect against oxidative damage and cell death induced by TBI in rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran-Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Zafrullah
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Arifin
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faried
authors.forename: Muhammad Nurhalim
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shahib
authors.forename: Kahdar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiriadisastra
authors.forename: Tatang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bisri