Experimental Studies On Effects Of Caspase-1,caspase-3 And Their Interaction After Traumatic Brain Injury

caspase family not only play a central role during evolution of central neural system,but also involve in diverse pathological process of diseases in central neural system, such as cell damage and inflamation. Caspase and caspase , these two active members of caspase family were selected as targets of study. In order to study effects of caspase caspase and their interaction after traumatic brain injury, the models of traumatic brain injury in rat were produced by Feeney's method with slightly modified. Intracerebraventricular injections of DMSO zVAD fmk zEVDmk were performed in treated groups respectively. The active fractions of caspase-1, caspase were identified by using immunochemistry of ABC method. Brain water contents were measured with Elliot method. Apoptosis of neurons was detected with TUNEL method. Neurological scores of rats were also evaluated in 24 hour and in one week respectively after brain injury. The results were as following 1. Brain edema, neuronal apoptosis, relatively high expression of active fractions of caspase-1, caspase and neurological deficits were revealed after traumatic brain injury. These may be involved the secondary brain damage associated traumatic braininjury. 2. Brain edema, neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits after brain injury were attenuated by intracerebraventricular injections of z YVAD-fmk, the specific caspase inhibior 3. Neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits were attenuated by intracerebraventricular injection of zEVD--fmk, the specific caspase inhibitor. 4. The expression of caspase active fraction was partialy inhibited by inhibited easpase-1 activity. The results suggest that caspase-1, caspase play an important role in the secondary damage after traumatic brain injury. Inhibition of caspase , caspase activity properly may provide a new way of treatment for traumatic brain injury.