C-fos gene expression and apoptosis after fluid percussion brain injury in rats

Objective To explore the pathologic mechanism of nerve cell apoptosis after traumatic brain injury at gene level,and to provide some theoretical guide for clinical therapy.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two gorups at random:control group and truama group.Immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated-deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling technique were used to detect the fos protein and the apoptotic cells in the septal ipsilateral cerrebral cortex at different phrases after injury.Results The level of fos protein and apoptotic cells were observed at 24h after injury in trauma group,but only few fos protein and apoptotic cells existed in the control group.Conclusion The delayed-expression of C-fos gene after injury may induce nerve cell apotosis in early stage.