Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in neonatal rat with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and the anti-apoptotic effect of NS398

Objective To investigate the effect of COX-2 on the pathogenesis of neonatal HIBD and the effect of NS398 on apoptosis.Methods Neonatal HIBD rat model was established.The brain tissues were collected for microscopic examinantion.The expression of COX-2 mRNA was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR,the expression of COX-2 protein was measured by immunohistochemiscal method,the anti-apoptotic effect to sis function of NS398 was estimated by TUNEL.Results The expression of COX-2 was significantly higher than that in control group,peaked at 24?h after hypoxia and ischemia.The neuron apoptosis in 24?h HIBD group was higher significiantly than that in treatment group(NS398),P0.01.The apoptosis level in the group treated with antagonist NS398 1h before hypoxia was lower than that in the group treated with antagonist NS398 1h after hypoxia,(P0.01).Conclusion COX-2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neonatal HIBD and COX-2 inhibitor has anti-apoptotic effect,which is more effective through early-stage intervention.