The effects of Penehyclidine Hydrochloride on [ Ca2+ ]i and the expression of cysteine-containing aspartare-specific proteases-3 in neural cells of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Objective To explore the influences of Penehyclidine Hydrochloride on [ Ca2 + ] i and the expression of cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-3 (Caspase-3) in neural cells of neonatal rats after hypoxic-ischemic injury within 12 h.Methods Seven-day-old Sprage-Dowley rats ( n =128) were randomly assigned into four groups:Sham group ( sham operation group,n =32),hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) group ( HIE models,n =32 ),N group ( HIE models treated with Nimodipine,n =32 ),and P group (HIE models treated with Penehyclidine Hydrocloride,n =32).Brain tissues were collected at different time points (2 h,4 h,6 h,and 12 h) after modeling.We utilized fluorescent microscope to detect the expression of Caspase-3 via making frozen slices of rat brain tissue,while [ Ca2+ ]iof neural cells in live brain slices of rats was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope.Results Compared with Sham group,both [ Ca2 + ] i and the expression of Caspase-3 of neural cells increased significantly ( P ＜ 0.01 ) in brain cortex in HIE group.[ Ca2 + ] i and Caspase-3 activity increased gradually with time since 2 h after making HIE models and reached a peak at the time points of 12 h ( P ＜0.05).In N group and P group,both of [ Ca2+ ]i and Caspase-3 decreased compared with HIE group (P ＜0.01 ),however,there was no significant difference between N group and P group ( P ＞ 0.05 ).In addition,[ Ca2 + ] i and Caspase-3 activity had no significant difference between 6 h and 12 h (P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion Penehyclidine Hydrocloride can protect the brain tissue from hypoxic-ischemic injury via relief of calcium overload and inhibition of Caspase-3 activity. Key words: Penehyclidine Hydrocloride;  Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy;  Calcium;  Cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-3 ; Rat,newborn