Variety of apoptosis after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage and effect of edaravone

Objective: To study the effect of edaravone on neurological function deficit, neuron apoptosis and expression ofcaspase-3 in rats after ICH. Methods: All rats were randomly divided into normal group, sham-operation group, model group andtreatment group.The later two groups were divided into four subgroups respectively : 6-hour group, 1-day group, 3-day-group and 5-daygroup with (each group 5 rats ). We established ICH model in model group and treatment group by injection of collagenase Ⅶ. Sham-operation group was established by saline instead. Treatment group were injected edaravone 3 mg/kg through celiac once a day.At 6hour, 1 day, 3 day and 5 day, the score of neurological behavior in rats were observed, TUNEL was used to detect deoxyribonucleicacid (DNA) fragmentation in apoptosis cell, caspase-3 positive cell were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results: Contrast tomodel group, the score of neurological behavior in treatment group rats were decreased significantly at 3 day and 5 day (P 0.05), aswell as TUNEL positive cell (3 d P 0.05, 5 d P 0.01).Significant difference of caspase-3 positive cell between model group andtreatment group occurred at 1 day, 3 day and 5 day (1 d, 3 d P 0.05, 5 d P 0.01). Conclusion: Edaravone can effectivelyalleviate apoptosis and accelerate the recover of neurological function deficit after ICH.