Effects of Quercetion on FADD protein expression following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

Objective To study the protein expression of Fas-associated with death domain protein(FADD), and the effect of Quercetin on them. Methods The rats were subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion for two hours, then killed at different time points after reperfusion. The protein expression of FADD were measured by immunohistochemistry.Results The protein expression of FADD were markedly increased at 3h after reperfusion in the penumbra of rat cortex, and peaked at 12h,then declined quickly at 24.Quercetin treatment could markedly downregulate the FADD protein expression after 3h of reperfusion.Conclusions The protein expression of FADD increased in the penumbra of rat cortex after transient focal cerebral ischemia , which suggests that they may play an important role in the cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Quercetin could protect neurons from ischemic damage through decreasing the expression level of FADD.