Objective To observe the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the brain tissue of the rats with acute cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and to explore the effect of DADLE, a delta opioid receptor ago- nist, on brain apoptotic pathways of acute cerebral ischemia reperfusion and the role of DADLE in the protection of brain. Methods 50 healthy female SD rats( 180-220 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group (Sham, n = 10): only exposed blood vessels without clipping; ischemia reperfusion group (I/R, n = 10): modified two-vessel occlusion with hypotension to establish a model of cerebral ischemia, and reperfused 15 min after ischemia; DADLE treatment group was subdivided into group of 2 mg/kg(A, n = 10), group of 3mg/kg (B, n= 10), and group of 5 mg/kg (C, n-- 10): on the basis of I/R group with reperfusion via external jugular vein injection of DADLE. Expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry assay after the operation. Results The number of cells with Bax or Bcl-2 expression (20.38 + 2.84 and 9.62 + 2.10, P 〈 0.05 )was significantly smaller in Sham group than in the other groups; In I/R group, the number of cells with Bax or Bcl-2 expression was 52.73 + 6.08 and 19.49 + 2.35 ; In DADLE treatment groups, the number of cells with Bax experssion was 43.71 -+ 3.85 for group A, 37.92 + 4.08 for group B, and 36.20 -+ 3.94 for group C; the number of cells with Bel-2 expression was 28.74 _+ 2.41,33.58 + 2.16,and 34.96 + 1.98, respectively. The ratio of Bel-2/Bax was significantly higher in Sham group than in I/R group (49.3% + 3.4% vs. 35.8% + 3.2%, P〈 0.05 ) ; and it was 66.4% ~ 6.8% in group A, 85.7% :t 7.3% in group B, and 92.6% + 6.9% in group C.Conelusions In rats with acute cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury, expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins are obviously upregulated. DADLE can play a role in protection of brain by affecting the expression degree of Bax and Bcl-2 and thus lowering apoptosis. Bcl-2Bax ratio shows that the role and the dose is in a S-shape curve of dose-effect. Key words: DADLE ; Whole brain ischemia reperfusion; Bax; Bcl-2
Read full abstract