Effects of Xiao Shuan Ke Li onexpression of Caspase-3 protein in brain tissue of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Objective:To explore the effects of Xiao Shuan Ke Li(XSKL) on Caspase-3 protein neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD).Methods:36 seven-day-old Sprague Dawley(SD) neonatal rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham operation group(n=12),HIBD model group(n=12),XSKL treatment group(n=12).Animal model of HIBD was induced according to the Yager method.The rats of treatment group were given oral XSKL(8g/kg,qd) for 14 days.HIBD model group and sham operation group were given the same amounts of saline for 14 days.The morphologic changes in the brain were observed,and the quantitative pathological score of three groups were compared.The amounts of Caspase-3 protein in hippocampal and cortex area were observed by immunohistochemical method.Results The brain organization in rats degenerated and necrosised significantly in HIBD model group,while only focal nerve cell degenerated in XSKL treatment group,and rarely in sham operation group.The quantitative pathological score of sham operation group HIBD model group was much lower than those in HIBD model group and XSKL treatment group(P0.01),while in XSKL treatment group was lower than that in HIBD model group(P0.01).Immunohistochemical method showed that the amounts of Caspase-3 protein in hippocampal and cortex area were little in sham operation group,and XSKL treatment group were much fewer than those of HIBD model group(P0.01).Conclusion:XSKL can reduce the brain damage of HIBD neotatal rats,the mechanism may be that XSKL can inhibit the expressin of Caspase-3 protein.