C-fos expression and apoptosis after traumatic brain injury

Objective To study c-fos expression and apoptosis after traumatic brain injury(TBI) in rats,and to explore the role of apoptosis in the secondary brain injury,and the relation between c-fos expression and neuroglial apoptosis.Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and 3,12,24,72h and 7 day group after injury.Parietal brain contusion was made by weight-dropping method.Apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemical staining(TUNEL),and c-fos expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results c-fos expression and apoptosis was found in the injury group 3h after TBI,which increased gradually at 12,24,72h and 7d after TBI.The involved cells included neurons and glial cells.c-fos expression and neuroglial apoptosis appeared to be similar in temporal changes and spatial localization,with a high relation between these 2 variables.Conclusion It is highly suggested that TBI could induce significant c-fos expression and apoptosis after TBI,and c-fos expression might be highly responsible for the apoptosis,proliferation and renovation after TBI.