Effect of ischemic postconditioning on cerebral edema and the AQP4 expression following hypoxic-eschemic brain damage in neonatal rats.

BACKGROUND

A rat model for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) was established to observe the effect of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) on cerebral edema and the AQP4 expression following HIBD and to verify the neuroprotection of IPostC and the relationship between changes of AQP4 expression and cerebral edema.

METHODS

Water content was measured with dry-wet method, and AQP4 transcription and the protein expression of the lesions were detected with real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively.

RESULTS

Within 6-48 hours, the degree of ipsilateral cerebral edema was significantly lower in IPostC-15 s/15 s group than in HIBD group. Similar to the HIBD group, the AQP4 transcription and expression in the IPostC group showed a downward and then upward trend. But the expression was still more evident in the HIBD group than in the IPostC-15 s/15 s group. From 24 to 48 hours, IPostC-15 s/15 s decreased the slowing down expression of AQP4.

CONCLUSION

IPostC has neuroprotective effect on neonatal rats with HIBD and it may relieve cerebral edema by regulating the expression of AQP4.