Effects of nerve growth factor on the regeneration of neurocytes after the hypoxia-ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats

Objectives To investigate the effects of nerve growth factor(NGF)on the regeneration of neurocytes following hypoxia-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)of neonatal rats. Methods The HIBD model was set up in seven-day-old newborn Wistar rats,and the rats were divided into two groups randomly,the NGF treatment group and the control group. A sham operation group is included. The newly generated neurocytes were labeled by bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU). The expressions of nestin in hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG)and the number of BrdU positive cells were examined by immunohistochemical staining and image quantitative analysis respectively at 4 th,7 th,14 th,21 th days after the ope-ration. Results The number of nestin and BrdU positive cells was significantly increased in HIBD rats than in sham ope-ration group at all time points(P 0.05=,and was also significantly increased in NGF treatment group than control group of HIBD at all time points(P 0.01=. Conclusions Exogenous NGF could enhance the expression of nestin and BrdU in hippocampal DG region of neonatal rats with HIBD,and may play an important role in the regeneration of neurocytes damaged by hypoxia-ischemia.