Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on expressions of bFGF and FGFR following cerebral ischemia reperfusion

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) on the expression of bFGF and FGFR following focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats. Methods The rat middle cerebral artery occlusion reperfusion (MCAO) model was developed by using the intraluminal filament method. Eighty rats were divided into 2 groups: the control group (n=40) and the HBO group (n=40). Then, the 2 groups were further subdivided into 5 groups, i.e. the day 1 reperfusion group, and the day 3 reperfusion group, the day 5 reperfusion group, the day 7 reperfusion group, the day 14 reperfusion group. The animals in these subgroups were all given reperfusion following 1-hour cerebral ischemia. Rats of the HBO group were exposed to hyperbaric oxygen. The expression of bFGF and FGFR were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results In the control group and the HBO group, the expression of bFGF and FGFR was shown day 1 after ischemia, reached a maximum at day 3, then subsided gradually. In the HBO group, the number of cells was significantly more than those in the control group at the same time point. Conclusions HBO might play an important role in the protection of ischemie neurons by means of over-expression of bFGF and FGFR. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Cerebral ischemia; Reperfusion injury; bFGF; Receptor