The Change on the Expression of NT-3 in Neurons of Cerebral Cortex of Adult Rat Following Local Ischemia

In order to explore the relation between NT-3 and neuronal injury in cerebra cortex following ischemia, ten adult SD rats were performed unilateral local ischemia operation. After 1 hour following ischemia, the cerebral cortex on both operated side and un-operated side was taken respectively and the tissue was made into frozen sections(20?μm on thickness). The sections were stained using specific antiserum of NT-3 by immunohistochemical ABC method. The level of NT-3 in neuron was estimated according to the average degree by computer analysis system. The results were as following: NT-3 like immunoreactive products distributed mainly in neurons of the third and the fifth layers in cerebral cortex. On 1 hour following local ischemia, the average degree of NT-3 in neurons of cerebral cortex increased more greatly on operated side than on un-operated side(P0 05). This demonstrated that the level of NT-3 in neurons of cerebral cortex following ischamia was downregulated apparently. It indicated that not only NT-3 plays an important role in the process of neuron reaction induced by ischemia in cerebral cortex but also the modulation mechanism of NT-3 is different from other neurotrophic factor such as nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor.