Altered gene expressions during hypoxia and reoxygenation in cortical neurons isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The expressions of Bcl-2, thioredoxin (TRX) and cytochrome c oxidase III (CO III) mRNAs after hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using cultured cortical neurons isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The differences in gene expressions of Bcl-2, TRX and CO III mRNA between SHRSP and WKY were most remarkable at 30 min of oxygen stimulation, and the expressions of these genes were significantly lower in SHRSP compared with those in WKY. These findings pointed out that redox regulatory function and energy metabolism in SHRSP neurons were markedly reduced by oxygen stimulation after hypoxia, and such changes may be involved in neuronal vulnerability.