Xiuping Chen1, Xin Zhang1, Li Xue2, Chizi Hao1, Weijing Liao1, Qi Wan3. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. 2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. 3. Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Enriched environment (EE) has been reported to exert neuroprotective effect in animal models of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EE treatment on neuronal apoptosis in the periinfarct cortex after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The cerebral I/R injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A set of behavioral tests including the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), limb-placing test and foot-fault test were conducted. The infarct volume and the neuronal survival rate were evaluated by Nissl staining. The morphology and ultrastructure of ischemic neurons was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by double labeling of TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) with NeuN. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were tested by western blotting and immunohistochemical labeling. RESULTS: EE treatment improved neurological function, reduced infarct volume, increased neuronal survival rate and alleviated the morphological and ultrastructural damage of neurons (especially mitochondria) after I/R injury. EE treatment reduced the neuronal apoptosis, increased B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) protein levels while decreased Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cytochrome c, caspase-3 expressions and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the periinfarct cortex after cerebral I/R injury. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EE treatment inhibits neuronal apoptosis in the periinfarct cortex after focal cerebral I/R injury, which may be one of the possible mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of EE.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Enriched environment (EE) has been reported to exert neuroprotective effect in animal models of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EE treatment on neuronal apoptosis in the periinfarct cortex after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: The cerebral I/R injury was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A set of behavioral tests including the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), limb-placing test and foot-fault test were conducted. The infarct volume and the neuronal survival rate were evaluated by Nissl staining. The morphology and ultrastructure of ischemic neurons was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by double labeling of TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) with NeuN. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were tested by western blotting and immunohistochemical labeling. RESULTS: EE treatment improved neurological function, reduced infarct volume, increased neuronal survival rate and alleviated the morphological and ultrastructural damage of neurons (especially mitochondria) after I/R injury. EE treatment reduced the neuronal apoptosis, increased B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) protein levels while decreased Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cytochrome c, caspase-3 expressions and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the periinfarct cortex after cerebral I/R injury. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EE treatment inhibits neuronal apoptosis in the periinfarct cortex after focal cerebral I/R injury, which may be one of the possible mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of EE.
Authors: Hernán H Dieguez; Juan S Calanni; Horacio E Romeo; Agustina Alaimo; María F González Fleitas; Agustina Iaquinandi; Mónica S Chianelli; María I Keller Sarmiento; Pablo H Sande; Ruth E Rosenstein; Damián Dorfman Journal: Cell Death Dis Date: 2021-12-04 Impact factor: 8.469