Effect of Survivin protein and Caspase-3 in traumatic brain injury in rats

Objective:To investigate the dynamic change and significance of Survivin protein expression and Caspase-3 activation following traumatic brain injury(TBI) in rats.Methods: Forty-two adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into trauma group(n=36) and control group(n=6).The experimental TBI model was established by Feeney's method.Tissue samples were harvested at different time points after injury for inspecting the expression of Survivin and Caspase-3 protein by immunohistochemical method,determining the Caspase-3 activity by colorimetric assay and measuring apoptosis by flow cytometer.Results:Compared to the control group,Caspase-3 activation,the number of apoptotic cell,and the Survivin and Caspase-3 expressions in trauma group were all increased significantly(P0.01).According to the correlation analysis,the activity of Caspase-3 was positively correlated with apoptotic rates(P0.01),but negatively correlated with the Survivin expression(P0.01).Conclusion: The increasing expression of Survivin after TBI may down-regulate Caspase-3 activation and inhibit apoptosis.