title: Effect of FK506 on apoptosis of facial motor neurons in rats and its possible mechanism.
abstract: To investigate the effect of FK506 on apoptosis of facial motor neurons in rats and its possible mechanism. A total of 48 Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. Facial nerve injury model was established by transection of facial nerve at stylomastoid foramen. Rats in experimental group and control group were provided with FK506 and normal saline by intraperitoneal injection, respectively. The morphology of facial neurons was observed under light microscope at different time points after injury. Apoptotic facial motor neurons were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick and labeling (TUNEL) staining, and expression of bcl-2 and bax was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. After facial nerve transection, the apoptotic cells in experimental group significantly decreased compared to control group (P < 0.05), with higher expression of bcl-2 and lower expression of bax in experimental group. FK506 could inhibit apoptosis of facial motor neurons after facial nerve transection, possibly via up-regulation of bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of bax expression.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China. zhangy201502@163.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruoyu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: Apoptosis; Bax; FK506; Facial nerve; bcl-2