The relationship between apoptosis of neurons and P53 gene and the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on them following cerebral ischemia

Objective To study the relationship between cell apoptosis and the expression of P53 gene as well as the effect of exogenous bFGF on them following cerebral ischemia reperfusion.Methods P53mRNA and protein expression as well as the effect of exogenous bFGF on them were examined using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry at 0～72 h of reperfusion after occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 2 h in rats.Simultaneously, the distribution of cell apoptosis was observed.Results The expression of P53 gene reached peak at 24 h and cell apoptosis reached peak at 24～48 h of reperfusion.Both of them decreased in bFGF treated rats as compared with ischemic rats (P0.01).Conclusions Cerebral ischemia reperfusion can induce P53 gene expression and apoptosis of cells.Exogenous bFGF can suppress the expression of P53 and cell apoptosis after cerebral ischemia reperfusion.