ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of vitamin D hormone(VDH)on autophagy and apoptosis in hippocampus of rats with traumatic brain injury(TBI). Methods A total of 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group(n=15),model group(n=15)and VDH group(n=15).The TBI model was established in the model group and VDH group.VDH group was injected with VDH 1 μg/kg 30 minutes,24 hours and 48 hours after modeling,respectively.The expression of microtubule as-sociated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and p62 was detected with Western blotting,and the number of apoptotic cells were detected with TUNEL three days after modeling.All groups were tested with Morris water maze on the fifth,sixth and seventh days. Results The number of TUNEL positive cells in hippocampus was more in the model group than in the control group (P<0.05),and was lower in VDH group than in the model group(P<0.05),as well as the expression of LC3II/LC3I and p62(P<0.05).The escape latency was longer in the model group than in the control group(P<0.05),and was shorter in VDH group than in the model group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swimming velocity on the fifth,sixth,and seventh days among three groups(F=0.530,P>0.05). Conclusion VDH has potential neuroprotective effects on TBI,which might be associated with its anti-apoptosis effect on the expression of LC3 and p62 proteins in hippocampus after TBI.