The gene expressions of nestin and stem cell factor in neurons after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Objective To study the gene expressions of nestin and stem cell factor(SCF)in neurons after ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat brain. Methods Thirty-six adult female rats were subject to left middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1.5h and different hours of reperfusion. In site hybridization was used to examine the expression of nestin and SCF mRNA in the rats subjected to 2h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 2d, 3d, 7d, 14d of reperfusion and sham-operation group (n=4). Results (1) Nestin expression in cortex, striatum and extraventricular zone was weak in the sham-operation group, and increased markedly in the ischemic hemisphere compared with sham-operation group except of reperfusion 2h in cortex, 2h, 6h in striatum, 2h, 6h and 14d in extraventricular zone. (2)SCF expression in cortex, striatum and extraventricular zone was weak in the sham-operation group, and increased markedly in the ischemic hemisphere compared with sham-operation group except of reperfusion 2h, 6h, 12h in cortex, 2h, 6h in striatum, 2h and 14d in extraventricular zone. Conclusion It is suggested that SCF expression might enhance the proliferation of neural stem cells following ischemia-reperfusion in rats.