Expressions Of Caspase-3 And Hsp20 And The Effects Of Flunarizine On Their Expressions In Brain Tissue Following Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion In Gerbils

Objective: To explore the expressions of Caspase-3 and the heat shock protein 20(Hsp20), and the protecion of flunarizine through the expressions of Caspase-3 and Hsp20 in gerbil brain tissue following transient cerebral ischemic reperfusion.Methods: A cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in gerbils was established by clamping both common carotids. Fifty gerbils were randomly divided into: normal control group, sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion(IR) group and flunarizine intervention group. Gerbils were fed with flunarizine(20mg/kg.d, Qd) the day before experiment in flunarizine intervention group. The expressions of Caspase-3 and Hsp20 in brain tissue were detected by using immunohistochemistry technique at the 6th hour, 1st day, 3rd and 7th day after IR. Experimental results were analyzed with SPSS13.0.Results: (1)HE staining: I/R Group with significant glial cells hyperplasia, interstitial edema, cellular edema and manipulus focal necrosis; Each subgroups of flunarizine intervention group showed lighter extend of damage compared to I/R Group;(2) Immunohistochemistry: Both Caspase-3 and Hsp20 expressed in neurons and gliacytes kytoplasm,Hsp20 also expressed in vascular endothelial cell. There were a few expressions of Caspase-3 and Hsp20 in both normal control group of 5 gerbils and sham operation group of 5 gerbils, and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05);and Hsp20 expressed weakly in vascular endothelial cell. Compared with normal control group, both of the levels of Caspase-3 and Hsp20 in neurons and gliacytes of ischemia-reperfusion gerbils were evidently upregulated at the 6th hour, 1st day, 3rd day and 7th day, and peaked at the 1st day(p＜0.01)and the 3rd day, respectively, then both downregulated gradually. Compared with normal control group and sham operation group, significant Hsp20 induction appeared in vascular endothelial cell. (3)Compared with IR group, levels of Caspase-3 in neurons and gliacytes of gerbils in flunarizine intervention group were evidently decreased at the 6th hour, 1st day, 3rd day and 7th day(p＜0.05), levels of Hsp20 upregulated, inversely.Conclusions:1. After IR, the levels of Caspase-3 and Hsp20 in neurons and gliacytes of ischemia-reperfusion gerbils were both evidently upregulated,and significant Hsp20 induction appeared in vascular endothelial cell.2. Injury of brain tissue after IR in Flunarizine groups became moderate. In addition, flunarizine may down-regulated levels of Caspase-3 and upregulated levels of Hsp20.