Effect of hyperbaric oxygen-treatment on the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the newborn rats brain of hypoxic-ischemia

AIM:To explore the effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen(HBO)on the apoptosis resulted from Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage(HIBD),and to observe the change of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression in this process.METHODS:The hypoxia-ischemia models were divided into following 3 groups:HIBD model group(24 cases),HBO treatment group(24 cases)and sham operation group(24 cases).The brain were taken from the model at 18,24,48 and 96 h after the model was made by decapitation.Then observe the morphologic change of brain tissues(the hippocampus and the cortex)and check the dynastic change of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression by immunohistochemistry at different time points.RESULTS:The expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in the hippocampus and cortex was higher than that of sham group at 18,24,48 and 96 h time point.Compared with HIBD(P0.05).The increased rate of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression was significantly decreased at each time point by HBO treatment(P0.05).CONCLUSION:HBO decreased the apoptosis of hippocampus and cortex nerve cells on 7-day-old HIBD rat model.It is suggested that through down-regulation of Caspase-9 and decrease of the expression of Caspase-3,HBO treatment prevent brain cells from apoptosis.