Effect of erythropoietin on Fas/FasL expression in brain tissues of neonatal rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage

Objective To investigate the effect of erythropoietin( EPO)on factor- related apoptosis and its ligand( Fas / Fas L) expression in brain tissues of neonatal rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage( HIBD). Methods One hundred and twenty newborn rats( 7 days years old) were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group,hypoxic ischemic brain damage group( model group) and EPO treatment group( test group),each group was further divided into five time points: 6,12,24,48 and 72 h after HIBD model was established.Eight rats in each group were killed at different time points. After which samples of brain tissues were harvested. Change of brain cell morphology was observed by HE staining and expression of Fas / Fas L was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Results In model group,expressions of Fas and Fas L reached the peak at 48 h after HIBD model was established and decreased at 72 h. Compared with sham group,the expressions of Fas and Fas L in model group at each time point were much higher,and the difference was statistically significant( P 0. 05). In test group,expressions of Fas and Fas L at each time point were significantly lower than in model group( P 0. 05). Conclusion Cell apoptosis in the brain tissue after hypoxic- ischemic damage could be remarkably inhibited by EPO through reduction of Fas and Fas L expression in braintissue of neonatal rats with HIBD.