The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on the expression of Caspase-3 gene in hippocampal neurons of epileptic rats

Objective To investigate the neuron-protective function and the possible mechanism of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) to hippocampal neurons of epileptic rat.Methods Epileptic seizure in rat model was induced by pentylenetetrazol and followed by normal saline(group B) or bFGF-abdomen-injection(group C),normal rats without epilepsy were taken as blank control group(group A).HE staining and immunohistochemistry technique were carried out to observe the alteration of neurons and the expressions of Caspase-3.Results HE staining:neuronal degeneration was observed in area CA1,CA3 and dentate hilus in both Group B and Group C,while cell degeneration and apoptosis in Group C was less than those in Group B.Caspase-3 immunohistochemistry staining showed neuron apoptosis in Group C was less than those in Group B at different time points(P0.01).Conclusion The bFGF could reduce the hippocampal neuronal damage in epileptic rats significantly,which suggested that bFGF could regulate the expression of Caspase-3 gene and sequentially protect neurons.