Effect of c-fos expression in the hipporampus on cognitive dysfunction following traumatic brain injury in rats

Objective To explore the effect of c-fos mRNA expression in the hippocampus on the impairment of learning and memory of rats following traumatic brain injury. Methods The model of traumatic brain injury was established in rats by using Marmarou's method. Then, c-fos mRNA expres-sion was detected by means of in situ hybridization and cognitive dysfunction evaluated by Morris water maze. Results After traumatic brain injury, c-fos mRNA expression was detected in the hippocampus at 30 minutes, reached peak at 1-3 hours and almost disappeared at 24 hours. Morris water maze test showed significant impairment of spatial learning and memory in rats. Conclusions Traumatic brain injury can induce up-regulated expression of c-fos mRNA in the hippocampus of the rats and lead to cogni-tive impairment by mediating delayed neural cell death and influencing intercellular signal transmission. Key words: Brain injuries; Hippocampus; Gene,c-fos; Cognition