Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on expression of caspase-3 and apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injurying in rats

Aim:To study the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on neuronal apoptosis and expression of caspase 3 after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injurying in rats.Methods: The model of middle cerebral arteries occlusion(MCAO) were performed with intraluminal filament blockade. By using in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP biotor nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry staining, the number of apoptotic cell and caspase 3 positive cells were detected in the sham operated group, the ischemia reperfusion group,and bFGF group after the middle cerebral arteries of SD rats occluded for 1h and reperfused for 24h. Results: Apoptotic cells and the caspase 3 positive neurons were observed occasionally in sham operated group. In ischemia reperfusion group, the number of apoptotic cells and caspase 3 positive neurons were 25.46±5.57 and 18.60±3.77, respectively. In bFGF group ,the number of apoptotic cells and caspase 3 positive neurons were 16.72±5.63 and 10.54±2.04, respectively. Compared with ischemia reperfusion group, the number of apoptotic cells and caspase 3 positive neurons in bFGF group was significantly reduced ( P 0.05). Conclusion: The decreased expression of caspase 3 may be one of the molecular mechanisms of decreased apoptotic cell after rat cerebral ischemia reperfusion injurying treated with basic fibroblast growth factor.