Expression of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the basilar artery after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits: A preliminary study

Abstract

It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of vasospasm is complex including endothelial damage, oxidative stress, inflammatory damage, and the accumulation of toxic metabolites. Recently, a growing body of evidence indicates that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays a unique role in many physiological stress processes. In this study, a total of 48 rabbits were assigned randomly to four groups: control group, SAH day 3, day 5, and day 7 groups. The animals in SAH day 3, day 5, and day 7 groups were subjected to injection of autologous blood into cisterna magna twice on day 0 and day 2 and were killed on days 3, 5, and 7, respectively. Cross-sectional area of basilar artery was measured and the Nrf2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The mRNA levels of Nrf2 were also determined by RT–PCR. The basilar arteries exhibited vasospasm after SAH and became more severe on days 3 and 5. The elevated expression of Nrf2 was detected after SAH and peaked on days 3 and 5. Nrf2 is increasingly expressed in a parallel time course to the development of cerebral vasospasm in a rabbit experimental model of SAH.