[Research on apoptosis changes of tensor veli palatini in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE

To explore apoptosis changes of dilator muscles in the upper airway by detecting the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 in tensor veli palatini in patients with OSAHS.

METHOD: The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected in tensor veli palatini in 30 cases with OSAHS and 10 cases chronic tonsillitis without OSAHS by immunohistochemistry and image analytical system, and the results were analyzed.

RESULT: (1) The expression levels of Bax in the OSAHS group increased significantly compared to control group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences of Bcl-2 expression between two groups, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 increased significantly (P < 0.05). (2) There were positive correlations between AHI and the expression levels of Bax (r = 0.697, P < 0.01) respectively in the test group.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that apoptosis occurred in tensor veli palatini in patients with OS AHS, and the more severity of OSAHS, the more apoptosis.