Effect of hyperbaric oxygen-treatment on the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the newborn rats brain of hypoxic-ischemia
AIM: To explore the effect of Hypcrbaric Oxygen (HBO) on the apoptosis resulted from Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage(HIBD), and to observe the change of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression in this process. METHODS: The hypoxia-ischemia models were divided into following 3 groups: HIBD model group (24 cases), HBO treatment group (24 cases) and sham operation group(24 cases). The brain were taken from the model at 18, 24, 48 and 96 h after the model was made by decapitation. Then observe the morphologic change of brain tissues (the hippocampus and the cortex) and check the dynastic change of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression by immunohistochemistry at different time points. RESULTS: The expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in the hippocampus and cortex was higher than that of sham group at 18, 24, 48 and 96 h time point. Compared with HIBD(P < 0.05). The increased rate of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression was significantly decreased at each time point by HBO treatment(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HBO decreased the apoptosis of hippocampus and cortex nerve cells on 7-day-old HIBD rat model. It is suggested that through down-regulation of Caspase-9 and decrease of the expression of Caspase-3, HBO treatment prevent brain cells from apoptosis.