OBJECTIVE: To study the mRNA expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and the influence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on GAP-43 mRNA. METHODS: Twenty normal Wistar rats were used as the normal group, and another 54 7-day-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the sham operation group, HIBD group and bFGF treatment group. Immediately after HIBD models were made, 4 U/g of bFGF was injected each day in the treated group, and in the HIBD group an equal amount of NS was injected ip each day. The expression of GAP-43 was examined by RT-PCR in the three groups on day 1, day 3 and day 7 after HIBD. And the expression of GAP-43 in the normal group on the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 14th days after birth was also examined. RESULTS: The expression of GAP-43 mRNA on the 2nd day after birth was lower and it increased later to a peak on the 7th day in the normal rats. Compared with the sham operation group, GAP-43 mRNA expression on both sides of the brain in the HIBD group decreased rapidly on the 1st day after damage. In the bFGF treatment group, GAP-43 mRNA expression on the 3rd day after damage increased markedly compared with that in the HIBD group of the same age and that in the 8-day old treatment group, and it still remained at high level on day 7 after damage. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in the brain of neonatal rats may change with age. It is related to the development and maturation of the brain. bFGF may have some positive effects on the restoration of brain function after HIBD."/>
Growth Associated Protein-43 mRNA Expression in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Damaged
Abstract OBJECTIVE: To study the mRNA expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) and the influence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on GAP-43 mRNA. METHODS: Twenty normal Wistar rats were used as the normal group, and another 54 7-day-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned into the sham operation group, HIBD group and bFGF treatment group. Immediately after HIBD models were made, 4 U/g of bFGF was injected each day in the treated group, and in the HIBD group an equal amount of NS was injected ip each day. The expression of GAP-43 was examined by RT-PCR in the three groups on day 1, day 3 and day 7 after HIBD. And the expression of GAP-43 in the normal group on the 2nd, 5th, 7th and 14th days after birth was also examined. RESULTS: The expression of GAP-43 mRNA on the 2nd day after birth was lower and it increased later to a peak on the 7th day in the normal rats. Compared with the sham operation group, GAP-43 mRNA expression on both sides of the brain in the HIBD group decreased rapidly on the 1st day after damage. In the bFGF treatment group, GAP-43 mRNA expression on the 3rd day after damage increased markedly compared with that in the HIBD group of the same age and that in the 8-day old treatment group, and it still remained at high level on day 7 after damage. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in the brain of neonatal rats may change with age. It is related to the development and maturation of the brain. bFGF may have some positive effects on the restoration of brain function after HIBD.
