Expression and clinical significance of AQP4 in human contusion brain tissue at earlier period

Objective To observe expression of aquaporin 4(AQP4) in human contusion brain tissue early at different time points,to investigate the mechanism of brain edema formation,and provide an objective basis for the treatment and prognosis of brain edema after traumatic brain injury.Methods The patients confirmed by CT with cerebral contusion and required surgery were selected.Cut small part of the normal brain tissue and brain contusion tissue during surgery,60 cases were brain contusion tissue(observation group),10 cases were normal non-functional brain tissues(control group).Control group received no treatment,observation group were divided into six sub-groups by time 2h,6h,8h,12h,24h,72h after injury: each group was 10(n=10).AQP4 expression at different time in each group was detected by immunity histochemistry and image analytical technique,and brain water contents was detected by dry-wet weigh method.Results Contrast to the normal control group,AQP4 expression increased in observation group group at 2h(P0.05),obviously increased at 6h、8h、12h(P0.01),reached peak at 24h~72h(P0.01).The change of AQP4 expression and brain water content had same tendency(r=0.912,P0.01).Conclusion AQP4 expression significantly increased,which suggesting the occurrence of AQP4 is closely related to the development process of brain injury.It play an important role in the brain edema formation after brain contusion.