Ischemic rat brains contain immunoreactivity of 14-3-3 proteins.

14-3-3 proteins and tissue damage association were determined. The localization of 14-3-3 proteins in section of cortex from ischemia produced rats was examined by immunohistochemistry. Ischemia was produced in rats by unilaterally clamping the carotid artery for 6 hrs at the distal side. Following recovery for 6 hrs, the animals were sacrificed. The intensity of neuronal necrosis stained with antibody raised against 14-3-3 protein was markedly more in the cortex than the other parts of the brain, since there was occlusion of the artery which feeds this region. 14-3-3 antibody was confined to neuronal cell body. Since 14-3-3 proteins are central to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling, this pathway is in part responsible for the hyperphosphorylation of neurofilaments or cytoskeletal proteins of neuron, which may possibly lead to neuronal inclusions.