[Protective effects of minocycline against apoptosis of olfactory sensory neurons].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects of minocycline against apoptosis of olfactory sensory neurons induced by sinusitis.

METHOD: Sixty adult SD rats were divided randomly into three groups: control group (group A), sinusitis group (group B) and intravenous injection of minocycline group (group C). The rats were sacrificed at 1,3,5 d and 7 d after surgery, and then the tissue sections of olfactory epithelium were stained and evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry method.

RESULT: The histopathological changes in maxillary sinus epithelium tissues observed with he staining microscopic examination in group B and C were worse than that in group A. Significant difference of the thickness of olfactory epithelium and Caspase-3 activity was demonstrated in group B and group C.

CONCLUSION

The result demonstrated that minocycline could inhibit expression of Caspase-3 in rats with sinusitis.