Time-order expression of caspase-3 and iNOS in contused human brain tissue / 法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of caspase-3 and iNOS in different intervals and to provide evidence for estimation of injury intervals after brain contusion in human.@*METHODS@#Thirty cases died of serious brain injury were included into the injury groups and 5 cases died of non-brain injury were served as control group. To analyze the changes of caspase-3 and iNOS expression in brain samples at different intervals (2h, 4-8h, 10-14h, 1-2d, 3-5d, 8-11d) by immunohistochemistry and auto-image analysis system.@*RESULTS@#The level of caspase-3 expression started to increase in 2 hours after brain contusion compared to the control group (P<0.05). The level of caspase-3 expression continued to increase in 1-2 days and maintained high level in 3-5 days compared to the control group (P<0.05), then decreased gradually. There was no statistically significant difference between the expression level of iNOS in 2 hours with the control group (P>0.05). But the expression level of iNOS began to increase in 4-8 hours after brain contusion and reached its maximum in 1-2 days, then decreased. Weak expression of iNOS still could be detected in 8-11 days.@*CONCLUSION@#The expression of caspase-3 and iNOS can be used as effective evidence for human brain contusion interval.