OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. METHODS: Forty 7day postnatal rats were randomly divided into NGFtreated (n=16), control (n=16) and sham surgery groups (n=8). Immediately after hypoxicischemic (HI) injury, 100 U NGF or normal saline solution was injected intraperitoneally; the sham surgery group was not injected. The effects on body weights, macro and microscopical changes were then assessed. The effect on apoptosis of neurons was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTPbiotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: The increased body weight in the NGF treatedgroup was significantly higher than that in the control group ［(4.16±0.24) g and (2.86±0.17) g, respectively (P<0.01)］. The average number of positive cells in the left hippocampus and cortex in the NGFtreated group at 24 h after HIBD were much lower than those in the control group (199.75±19.61 vs 285.50±32.67, 182.75±19.12 vs 271.00±28.36, respectively, P<0.01). At 48 h after HIBD, they were also much lower than those in the control group (77.75±15.76 vs 106.50±16.96; 82.50±19.15 vs 122.75±16.56, respectively, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that intraperitoneal administration on NGF has protective effects on neuronal apoptosis associated with hypoxicischemic injury."/>
Protective Effects of Nerve Growth Factoron Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Damage in Neonatal Rats
Abstract OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. METHODS: Forty 7day postnatal rats were randomly divided into NGFtreated (n=16), control (n=16) and sham surgery groups (n=8). Immediately after hypoxicischemic (HI) injury, 100 U NGF or normal saline solution was injected intraperitoneally; the sham surgery group was not injected. The effects on body weights, macro and microscopical changes were then assessed. The effect on apoptosis of neurons was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTPbiotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining. RESULTS: The increased body weight in the NGF treatedgroup was significantly higher than that in the control group ［(4.16±0.24) g and (2.86±0.17) g, respectively (P<0.01)］. The average number of positive cells in the left hippocampus and cortex in the NGFtreated group at 24 h after HIBD were much lower than those in the control group (199.75±19.61 vs 285.50±32.67, 182.75±19.12 vs 271.00±28.36, respectively, P<0.01). At 48 h after HIBD, they were also much lower than those in the control group (77.75±15.76 vs 106.50±16.96; 82.50±19.15 vs 122.75±16.56, respectively, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that intraperitoneal administration on NGF has protective effects on neuronal apoptosis associated with hypoxicischemic injury.
