The Study On Protective Effect Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy On Neuron Apoptosis,Expressions Of Bcl-2 And Bax-Protein In Rats With Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:To study the protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on cerebral neurons affected by traumatic injury and investigate its mechanisms in attenuating neuron apoptosis after traumatic brain damage.Methods:The traumatic brain injury model was established according to Feeney's[1] method.72 rats were randomly assigned to model group (group 1), traumatic brain injury group (group 2) and traumatic brain injury treated with hyperbaric oxygen group (group 3). The rats in group 3 were put into hyperbaric oxygen chamber within 2 hours after the damage and were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for straight 24 days. During the process, observations were carried out in each group 1 d, 7 d, 21 d after the operation: TUNEL method was used to examine the distribution of apoptosis cells, immunohistochemical method was used to examine the distribution of Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactive-positive cells in the brain tissues.Results:Both the average percentages of apoptosis cells and Bcl-2 immunoreactive-positive cells in group 3 were lower than those of group 2 at each watchtime. And there was also a significant difference of the Bax immunoreactive-positive cells between group 2 and group 3.Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen therapy could significantly protect neurons against apoptosis after traumatic brain injury. Modulating the expressions of proteins Bcl-2 and Bax related with apoptosis may explain the protective mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on traumatic brain injury. And early HBO application will be more beneficial for the rats with traumatic injury.