Effect of MK801 on apoptosis in the development of brain injury after hind limbs ischemia/reperfusion in rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate development of brain injury after hind limbs ischemia/reperfusion (LI/R) in rats, and the effect of MK801 on the brain injury following LI/R.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The limbs ischemia/reperfusion model was established in rats. The MDA contents were evaluated in each group, apoptotic cells were detected with TUNEL, the expression of apoptosis-associated protein, such as bcl-2, cytoC and caspase-3 were determined with immunohistochemistry and Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contents of MDA in brain tissue increased significantly following LI/R. The expression of bcl-2, cytoC, Caspase-3 was increased than those in the control group (P < 0.01) following LI/R significantly. The expression of Caspase-3 was increased 24 h after the onset of reperfusion. The expression of Caspase-3, bcl-2 gene was quite obvious in the midbrain red nucleus region. MK801 inhibited the expression of bcl-2, cytoC, Caspase-3 obviously.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The excessive apoptosis and apoptosis-associated factors could play an important role in the brain injury following LI/R in rat, MK801 might decrease the production of free radical and the excite toxicity of glutamate, inhibit the expression of apoptosis associated protein and reduce the occurrence of apoptosis.</p>