The value of exogenous bFGF in protection of hippocampal neurons against traumatic necrosis and apoptosis following severe brain injury in rat

Objective To investigate whether the neuronal necrosis combine with neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus in rats following severe brain injury. In the mean time, the effects of exogenous bFGF against necrosis and apoptosis of neurons after brain injury were also examined. Methods Wistar rats were put into experiment. Severe diffuse brain injury has been developed through Marmarous method. Systemic administration of bFGF(4μg/per time) or 0 1% PBS at 30 min, and on 2nd and 5th days after brain injury were performed. On the 1st, 3rd and 7th days after injury, the number of survival of neurons and apoptotic positive neurons in CA2 3 sectors in hippocampal were examined histo logically by mean of HE and TUNEL stain respectively. Results Except neuronal necrosis,increasing number of apoptotic neurons in hippocampal CA2 3 sectors were found in injury group at 4 hours following brain injury and peaking on 7th day after injury. Exogenous bFGF could prevent the neurons necrosis and apoptosis obviously.Conclusion Neurons necrosis happens in combination with neurons apoptosis after brain injury. One reason of it may be related to the insufficient expression of bFGF gene in hippocampus after severe brain injury. It is mecessary to applied exogenous bFGF and some relative therapeutics after brain injury to reduce neurons necrosis and prevent neurons apoptosis.