Effects of edaravone on caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression after transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats

Objective Using the Edaravone to therapy the rats after transient focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. To investigate whether neuroprotective effect can be achieved by Edaravone after transient focal cerebral ischemia,To testify whether the caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression in the pathogenesis of focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion were involved by Edaravone. Methods Transient focal cerebral ischemia in rat models were set up after 1 h of ischemia. The rats were randomly divided into normal group,sham operated group,cerebral ischemia group and Edaravone therap group. The Edaravone group were ip and sc edaravone (3mg/kg) after 30min of reperfusion,repeat it after 30min. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe cerebral caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Results The caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression positive cell can be seen in cerebral frontal and parietal cortex at the 2-hour point after reperfusion,which reached peak at the 12-hour and 6-hour point after reperfusion respectively. The number of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression positive cell in Edaravone group compared with those of the control groups,there was a significant difference (P0.05). Conclusion The caspase-3 protein expression was decreased and Bcl-2 protein expression was increased by Edaravone. The injury of focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion were protected greatly by Edaravone.