The Expression of AQP-4 in Hippocampus of Rats after Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury Following Acute Alcoholism

Objective: To investigate the expression changes and roles of AQP4 in rat hippocampus under condition of acute alco- hol intoxication with TBI. Methods: The animal model of acute alcohol intoxication with TBI was established by injecting of 20% alcohol intraperitoneally and hitting rat forehead vertically. 96 SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups: N group (normal saline was injected into the rat abdominal cavity), A group (alcohol was injected into the rat abdominal cavity), T group (before traumatic brain injury, normal saline was injected into the rat abdominal cavity) and AT group (before traumatic brain injury, alcohol was injected into abdominal cavity and traumatic brain injury). Animals of every group survived 1, 3, 5, 14 days respectively. The expression of AQP4 in hippocampus neurons was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Positive product of AQP4 distribute in the glial fibers and capillaries wall. The expression of AQP4 in Experimental group were higher than the N group, Group T were more higher than that in Group A at 1 day( P0.01), Group AT were higher than that in Group T at 3 day( P0.05), Group AT were more higher than that in Group T at 14 day( P0.01). Conclusion: Acute alcoholism plays protective roles at early stage of moderate traumatic brain injury, which may be related to astrocyte inhibited by alcohol so as to reduce inflammatory reaction.