Effect of CGRP and NGF on expression of Erk in brain during whole cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats

Objective: To determine the expression of extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk) after whole cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats and to explore the protective effects and mechanism of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on brain tissue.Methods: A novel model of whole cerebral ischemia and reperfusion was induced by carotid artery negative pressure shunt in rats. The expression of Erk in hippocampus and cortex was detected with SABC immunohistochemical method and microimage analysis. Results: The expression of Erk in hippocampus and cortex increased after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (P0.05).The percentage of Erk immunoreaction positive cells in CGRP or NGF group were higher than that of ischemia and reperfusinon group (P0.01).The combined usage of CGRP and NGF had even more obvious effects (P0.05). Conclusion:The results indicate that CGRP and NGF participate in the regulation of expression of Erk in ischemic neurons, and they may cooperate with each other.