Effect of estrogen on the expression of caspase-3 in nerve cell after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of estrogen on the expression of caspase-3 in rat focal cerebral ischemia tissue.Methods: A total of 30 health female Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,ischemic control group,estrogen group.Focal cerebral ischemia model was established with the middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hours by reversible inserting a nylon thread method.All animals were killed at 24 hours of reperfusion.The infarct volume of each group were measured by 1% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining technique and the expression of caspase-3 was measured by using immunohistochemistry staining.Results: The sham operation group could not find infarction focus and caspase-3 expression.There was remarked difference on the infarct volume between the estrogen groups(16.7± 2.1)% and the ischemic control group(21.9 ± 4.3)%(P0.01).The expression of caspase-3 reduced significantly in estrogen group(86±11) compared with ischemic control group(131±15)(P0.01).Conclusion: The expression of caspase-3 remarkablely increases after reperfusion,and estrogen therapy could inhibit the expression of caspase-3 and reduced the neuronal cell apoptosis in rats.Estrogen provides neuroprotective in rats.