The Changes Of Ultrastructure And Expressions Of GFAP In The Brain Tissues Of Heroin-addicted Rats

Objective: To imitate the processes of human heroin addiction, we set up the model of heroin addiction. The study on the changes of ultrastructune and expression of GFAP in the brain tissues of heroin-addicted rats were done to make clear the lesions which have been made in the brain tissues by heroin. Method: Appling the method of gradually increase of dosage, rats were given subcutaneous injection of heroin and the addiction of model was established. Rats were divided into control group and model group. The brains were taken out from two groups rats and were divided into two halfs along the median sagittal plane. The expression of GFAP were tested by immnohistochemical method in the half brain. The ultrastructural changes of brain tissues in the prefroneal cortex hippocampus and hypothalamus which were taken out from the another half brain were observed under eletronic microscope. Results: Degeneration, apoptosis, oncosis were found in the neuronal somas, axons, dendrites of the heroin addicted rats brains. Astrocytes were hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Meanwhile, the degenerative astrocytes were also found. Oligodenodrocytes and microglial cell were hyperplasia too. The swellon and degenernatial neuropil were found. A series of ultrastructural changes of permeability-increase of blood-brain barrier (BBB) of heroin-addicted rats existed. The glial perivascular feet and astrocytes surrounding the basement membrance were swellon. Expression levels of GFAP increased sighificantly. There was not position differentiae among these pathological changes in this experience. Ultrastructural image and expression levels of GFAP in the brain of control group were normal. Conclusion: Widespread pathology ultrastruceural changes have been found in the heroin-addicted rats brain tissue, including neuronal somas and processes, glial cells ,neuropil and BBB, of which degeneration is a main form of pathology and apoptosis is the main form of neuron death .Accordingly,astrocytes were hyperplasia and expression level of GFAP increased significantly. This experim ent didn't demonstrated that there was position differentiae in the lesions of brain tissue which were made by heroin addiltion.