Effects of extracellular-signal regulated kinase signaling pathway activation on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats

Objective To investigate the effects of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats.Methods The hypoxic-ischemic brain damage model of neonatal Wistar rats was established as following:first the right common carotid artery of the rats was ligated;2 h after operation,the rats began to inhale 8%-oxygen oxygen-nitrogen gas mixture lasting for 2 h.Rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham-group,hypoxic-ischemic group and ERK inhibitor PD98059 group (the rats were injected PD98059 2 mg/kg 10 min before the ligation).Six hours after the models were done,hippocampi and cortex of the ligation side of rats in the three groups were collected,and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured.Apoptosis of neuron was assessed by TUNEL staining.The expression of ERK1,ERK 2,Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by Western blot.The differences among the groups were analyzed with ANOVA and q test.Results Compared with the sham-group,the MDA level [(342.9± 10.8) μmol/L vs (181.5± 17.0) μmol/L,q= 6.35,P＜0.01) and the apoptosis rate of neuron [(18.80±1.37)% vs (3.53±0.34)%,q=6.06,P＜0.01) of hypoxic-ischemic group was higher,and SOD level was lower [(34.8±4.3) U/ml vs (63.4±4.3) U/ml,q=4.99,P＜0.01].While the apoptosis rate of neuron [(15.53±0.64) %] and MDA level [(252.0± 17.1) μmol/L] of PD98059 group were lower than those of hypoxic-ischemic group(q=3.87 and 5.28,P＜0.01respectively),the SOD level [(51.5 ± 3.8) U/ml] was higher than that of hypoxic-ischemic group (q=4.17,P＜0.01).There were no differences of ERK1 and ERK2 expressions among the three groups.The phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2 levels of hypoxic-ischemic group were higher than those of sham-group (q=3.82 and 4.08,P＜0.01) and PD98059 group (q=4.79 and 5.12,P＜0.01).The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax of hypoxic-ischemic group were higher than those of sham-group (q=3.55 and 3.42,P＜0.01).Compared with hypoxic-ischemic group,Bcl-2 expression (q=3.71,P＜0.01) of PD98059 group was higher,and Bax expression (q=5.86,P ＜ 0.01) was lower.Conclusions ERK is involved in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats through regulating the expression of apoptosis protein. Key words: Hypoxia-ischemia,brain; Extracellular-signal regulated MAP kinases; Animals,newborn; Rats; Apoptosis