Fluoxetine is Neuroprotective in Early Brain Injury <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> its Anti-inflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effects in a Rat Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Model

Fluoxetine, an anti-depressant drug, has recently been shown to provide neuroprotection in central nervous system injury, but its roles in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether fluoxetine attenuates early brain injury (EBI) after SAH. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg per day) significantly attenuated brain edema and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, microglial activation, and neuronal apoptosis in EBI after experimental SAH, as evidenced by the reduction of brain water content and Evans blue dye extravasation, prevention of disruption of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-5, and occludin, a decrease of cells staining positive for Iba-1, ED-1, and TUNEL and a decline in IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, 3-nitrotyrosine, and 8-OHDG levels. Moreover, fluoxetine significantly improved the neurological deficits of EBI and long-term sensorimotor behavioral deficits following SAH in a rat model. These results indicated that fluoxetine has a neuroprotective effect after experimental SAH.     

Fluoxetine is Neuroprotective in Early Brain Injury via its Antiinflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effects in a Rat Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Model

Fluoxetine, an anti-depressant drug, has recently been shown to provide neuroprotection in central nervous system injury, but its roles in subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether fluoxetine attenuates early brain injury(EBI) after SAH. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal injection of fluoxetine(10 mg/kg per day) significantly attenuated brain edema and blood-brain barrier(BBB) disruption, microglial activation, and neuronal apoptosis in EBI after experimental SAH, as evidenced by the reduction of brain water content and Evans blue dye extravasation, prevention of disruption of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, claudin-5, and occludin, a decrease of cells staining positive for Iba-1, ED-1, and TUNEL and a decline in IL-1 b, IL-6, TNF-a, MDA, 3-nitrotyrosine, and 8-OHDG levels. Moreover, fluoxetine significantly improved the neurological deficits of EBI and long-term sensorimotor behavioral deficits following SAH in a rat model. These results indicated that fluoxetine has a neuroprotective effect after experimental SAH.     

Apigenin attenuates oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Apigenin (API) is a naturally occurring plant flavone that exhibits powerful antioxidant and antiapoptosis. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The potential anti-oxidative and anti-apoptosis effects of API on EBI following SAH, however, have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess whether API alleviates EBI after SAH via its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects. The endovascular puncture model was used to induce SAH and all the rats were subsequently sacrificed at 24 h after SAH. Our data demonstrated that administration of API could significantly alleviate EBI (including neurological deficiency, brain edema, blood–brain barrier permeability, and cortical cell apoptosis) after SAH in rats. Meanwhile, API treatment reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), elevated the ratio of glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and increased the amount of super-oxide dismutase (SOD) and hydrogen peroxide in brain cortex at 24 h following SAH. Moreover, API treatment inhibited SAH-induced the expression of Bax and caspase-3, significantly reduced neuronal apoptosis. Collectively, API exerts its neuroprotective effect likely through the dual activities of anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis, at least partly. These data provide a basic platform to consider API may be safely used as a potential drug for treatment of SAH.     

Role of autophagy in early brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

Autophagy is a self-degradative process and it plays a housekeeping role in removing misfolded or aggregated proteins, clearing damaged organelles, and eliminating intracellular pathogens. Previous studies have demonstrated that autophagy pathway was activated in brain after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); however, the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following SAH remains unknown. Experiment 1 aimed to investigate the time–course of the autophagy in the cortex following SAH. In experiment 2, we chose the maximum time pointof autophagy activation and assessed the effects of rapamycin (RAP, autophagy activator) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA, autophagy inhibitor) on regulation of EBI. All SAH animals were subjected to injection of 0.3 ml fresh arterial, nonheparinized blood into prechiasmatic cistern in 20 s. As a result, microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 (LC3), a biomarker of autophagosome, and beclin-1, a Bcl-2-interacting protein required for autophagy, were significantly increased at the early stage of SAH and their expressions peaked at 24 h after SAH. In RAP-treated group, the early brain damage such as brain edema, blood–brain barrier (BBB) impairment, cortical apoptosis, and clinical behavior scale was significantly ameliorated in comparison with vehicle-treated SAH rats. Conversely, 3-MA decreased expression of LC3 and beclin-1, increased the average value of brain edema and BBB disfunction, and aggravated neurological deficits. Our results suggest that autophagy pathway is activated in the brain after SAH and may play a beneficial role to EBI development.     

TSG-6 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Early Brain Injury in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Partly by the HO-1 and Nox2 Pathways

BackgroundEarly brain injury (EBI) refers to acute brain injury during the first 72 h after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which is one of the major causes of poor prognosis after SAH. Here, we investigated the effect and the related mechanism of TSG-6 on EBI after SAH.Materials and methodsThe Sprague-Dawley rat model of SAH was developed by the endovascular perforation method. TSG-6 (5μg) was administered by an intraventricular injection within 1.5 h after SAH. The effects of TSG-6 on EBI were assessed by neurological score, brain water content (BWC) and TUNEL staining. Immunofluorescence staining was used to assay NF-κB/p-NF-κB expression in microglia. Protein expression levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2), Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3 were measured to investigate the potential mechanism. The enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed using commercially available kits.ResultsThe results showed that TSG-6 treatment alleviated the neurobehavioral dysfunction and reduced BWC and the number of TUNEL-positive neurons in EBI after SAH. TSG-6 decreased the ROS level and enhanced the enzyme activity of SOD and GSH-Px after SAH. Furthermore TSG-6 inhibited the NF-κB activation, increased the protein expression levels of HO-1 and Bcl-2 and decreased the expression levels of Nox2, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3. The administration of TSG-6 siRNA abolished the protective effects of TSG-6 on EBI after SAH.ConclusionWe found that TSG-6 attenuated oxidative stress and apoptosis in EBI after SAH partly by inhibiting NF-κB and activating HO-1 pathway in brain tissue.     

Neuritin provides neuroprotection against experimental traumatic brain injury in rats

Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Neuritin is a neurotrophic factor that regulates neural growth and development. However, the role of neuritin in alleviating TBI has not been investigated.

Methods: In this study, Sprague Dawley rats (n = 144) weighing 300 ± 50 g were categorized into control, sham, TBI and TBI + neuritin groups. The neurological scores and the ultrastructure of cortical neurons, apoptotic cells and caspase-3 were measured by using Garcia scoring system, transmission electron microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, Western blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR at various time points post-TBI.

Conclusions: Our findings indicated that neuritin plays a protective role in TBI by improving neurological scores, repairing injured neurons and protecting the cortical neurons against apoptosis through inhibition of caspase-3 expression. Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying caspase-3 inhibition by neuritin will provide a research avenue for potential TBI therapeutics.     

硫氧还蛋白相互作用蛋白表达下调减轻大鼠蛛网膜下腔出血后早期脑损伤

目的观察大鼠蛛网膜下腔出血(subarachnoid hemorrhage,SAH)后早期硫氧还蛋白相互作用蛋白(thioredoxin-interacting protein,TXNIP)表达变化,检测干预前后TXNIP及下游凋亡因子表达,探讨TXNIP参与SAH后早期脑损伤(early brain injury,EBI)的可能机制。方法血管内穿刺法建立SAH模型。97只成年雄性SD大鼠,随机分为假手术对照组(Sham组,17只)、SAH组(32只)、Control si RNA组(12只)、TXNIP si RNA组(12只)、白藜芦醇(resveratrol,RES)对照组(12只)、RES干预组(12只)。Western blot检测SAH后各时间点及干预前后TXNIP、p-ASK-1、Caspase-3表达变化,荧光共聚焦检测TXNIP在神经元定位,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡与TXNIP共定位,同时进行脑水肿评估(6只/组)和行为学评分(12只/组)。结果采用TXNIP si RNA和TXNIP抑制剂RES干预后死亡率、行为学评分及脑水肿(F=7.964,P0.05)得到改善。荧光共聚焦显示TXNIP在大鼠脑神经元广泛表达,且主要位于胞浆。荧光TUNEL提示TXNIP与皮层区及海马区凋亡细胞共定位。Western blot发现与Sham组(0.476±0.043,n=3)比较,TXNIP在SAH后12h(0.729±0.548)表达逐渐增高,72h(1.509±0.071)仍处于较高水平,同时伴随下游凋亡因子的增高,差异有统计学意义(F=7.806,P0.05)。采用TXNIP si RNA和TXNIP抑制剂RES干预后,TXNIP表达下调(F=900.849,P0.05,n=3),下游凋亡因子出现下降(p-ASK1,F=32.897,P0.05;Caspase-3,F=89.120,P0.05)。结论大鼠SAH后早期TXNIP表达增加,通过其促凋亡机制参与EBI发生,下调TXNIP能减轻大鼠SAH后EBI,这可能为临床SAH早期治疗提供新的治疗思路。     

Propofol Reduces Inflammatory Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Involvement of PI3K/Akt Pathway

Background: Our previous study showed that propofol, one of the widely used anesthetic agents, can attenuate subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced early brain injury (EBI) via inhibiting inflammatory and oxidative reaction. However, it is perplexing whether propofol attenuates inflammatory and oxidative reaction through modulating PI3K/Akt pathway. The present study investigated whether PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in propofol's anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and neuroprotection against SAH-induced EBI. Materials and methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent SAH and received treatment with propofol or vehicle after 2 and 12 hours of SAH. LY294002 was injected intracerebroventricularly to selectively inhibit PI3K/Akt signaling. Mortality, SAH grading, neurological scores, brain water content, evans blue extravasation, myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were measured 24 hours after SAH. Immunoreactivity of p-Akt, t-Akt, nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB) p65, nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in rat brain was determined by western blot. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in rat brain were examined by ELISA. Results: Propofol significantly reduces neurological dysfunction, BBB permeability, brain edema, inflammation, and oxidative stress, all of which were reversed by LY294002. Propofol significantly upregulates the immunoreactivity of p-Akt, Nrf2, and NQO1, all of which were abolished by LY294002. Propofol significantly downregulates the overexpression of NF-κB p65, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β, all of which were inhibited by LY294002. Conclusion: These results suggest that propofol attenuates SAH-induced EBI by inhibiting inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, which might be associated with the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Nuclear factor‐κB/Bcl‐XL pathway is involved in the protective effect of hydrogen‐rich saline on the brain following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits

Early brain injury (EBI), a significant contributor to poor outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is intimately associated with neuronal apoptosis. Recently, the protective role of hydrogen (H₂) in the brain has been widely studied, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Numerous studies have shown nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) as a crucial survival pathway in neurons. Here we investigated the role of H₂ in EBI following SAH, focusing on the NF‐κB pathway. A double blood injection model was used to produce experimental SAH, and H₂‐rich saline was injected intraperitoneally. NF‐κB activity within the occipital cortex was measured. Immunofluorescence was performed to demonstrate the activation of NF‐κB; Bcl‐xL and cleaved caspase‐3 were determined via Western blot. Gene expression of Bcl‐xL was detected by real‐time PCR, and TUNEL and Nissl staining were performed to illustrate brain injury in the occipital cortex. SAH induced a significant increase of cleaved caspase‐3. Correspondingly, TUNEL staining demonstrated obvious neuronal apoptosis following SAH. In contrast, H₂ treatment markedly increased NF‐κB activity and the expression of Bcl‐xL and decreased the level of cleaved caspase‐3. Additionally, H₂ treatment significantly reduced post‐SAH neuronal apoptosis. The current study shows that H₂ treatment alleviates EBI in the rabbits following SAH and that NF‐κB/Bcl‐xL pathway is involved in the protective role of H₂. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

SIRT1 inhibition by sirtinol aggravates brain edema after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

Secondary brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is poorly understood. We utilized a rat model of SAH to investigate whether SIRT1 has a protective role against brain edema via the tumor suppressor protein p53 pathway. Experimental SAH was induced in adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats by prechiasmatic cistern injection. Brain SIRT1 protein levels were examined in the sham controls and in rats 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr after SAH induction. The SIRT1 inhibitor sirtinol was administered by intracerebroventricular infusion. Neurological functions, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and brain water content were assessed. Endothelial cell apoptosis, caspase 3 protein expression, p53 acetylation, and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) activity were examined. Compared with the control, SIRT1 protein expression increased remarkably, reaching a maximum at 24 hr after SAH. Sirtinol treatment significantly lowered SIRT1 expression, accompanied by deteriorated neurologic function, BBB disruption, brain edema, increased endothelial cell apoptosis, and increased MMP‐9 gelatinase activity compared with the rats treated with vehicle only. Our results suggest that increased expression of endogenous SIRT1 may play a neuroprotective role against brain edema after SAH. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 plays detrimental role in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats by inducing ferroptosis

AimsAcyl‐CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is closely related to tumor genesis and development in certain tissues. However, the function of ACSL4 in early brain injury (EBI) caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns and role of ACSL4 in SAH and post‐SAH EBI using a rat model of SAH.MethodsThe rat model of SAH was induced by autologous blood injection into the prechiasmatic cistern of rats. We also used two specific inhibitors of ferroptosis (Ferrostatin‐1 and Liproxstatin‐1) to investigate the role of ferroptosis in EBI.ResultsWe found that ACSL4 levels in brain tissue increased significantly in post‐SAH EBI. Inhibiting the expression of ACSL4 using small interfering RNAs alleviated inflammation, blood‐brain barrier (BBB) impairment, oxidative stress, brain edema, and behavioral and cognitive deficits, and increased the number of surviving neurons, after SAH. Similar effects were obtained by suppressing ferroptosis.ConclusionsACSL4 exacerbated SAH‐induced EBI by mediating ferroptosis. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for potential therapy aimed at alleviating post‐SAH EBI.     

补阳还五汤对脑出血大鼠PI3K/AKT信号通路的影响及其神经保护作用的机制

目的观察并探究补阳还五汤对脑出血大鼠脑组织磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶(PI3K/AKT)信号转导通路的影响及其神经保护作用的可能机制。方法 72只SD大鼠随机分为四组:假手术组、模型组、补阳还五汤组、银杏叶片组,每组18只。其中模型组、补阳还五汤组、银杏叶片组采用Rosenberg法制作脑出血大鼠模型。Garcia法检测大鼠神经功能评分,电镜观察神经元线粒体超微结构,western blot法检测磷酸化蛋白激酶(p-AKT)蛋白表达,TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡变化,免疫组化法检测B细胞淋巴瘤基因-2(bcl-2)蛋白、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(bax)的表达,甲酰胺法检测血脑屏障(BBB)通透性,干湿重法检测脑组织含水量。结果与脑出血模型组相比,补阳还五汤治疗明显提高神经功能学评分(P0.05),降低BBB通透性,减少脑组织水含量(P0.05),上调p-AKT、bcl-2蛋白表达,下调bax蛋白表达,减轻线粒体损伤,抑制神经元凋亡。结论补阳还五汤抗脑出血引起脑损伤的作用机制可能与其激活PI3K/AKT信号途径,抑制神经元凋亡,降低BBB通透性,减轻脑水肿有关。     

Blood-brain barrier disruption following subarchnoid hemorrhage may be faciliated through PUMA induction of endothelial cell apoptosis from the endoplasmic reticulum

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays a vital role as both a physiologic and physical barrier in regulating the movement of water from the vasculature to the brain. During a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the BBB is disrupted by a variety of mediators, one of which can result in endothelial cell death. As a result, in the present study, we investigated the role of PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) following SAH injury in rats. Specifically evaluating whether through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), PUMA could orchestrate the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis and cause a disruption in the blood–brain barrier integrity. One hundred twelve male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham, SAH, SAH + control siRNA, SAH + PUMA siRNA. Outcomes measured include mortality rate, brain edema, BBB disruption, and neurobehavioral testing. We also used Western blotting techniques to measure the expression of key pro-apoptotic proteins such as BAX, BAK, and DRP1. PUMA siRNA treatment significantly reduced the mortality rate, cerebral edema, neurobehavioral deficits, and BBB disruption as measured by Evans blue assay following SAH injury. The T2WI images showed there was an increase in vasogenic edema in the brain following SAH, which could be alleviated by PUMA siRNA. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis demonstrated an increased expression of PUMA, BAX, BAK, GRP78 and DRP1 in the microvascular endothelial cells of the hippocampus, which was accompanied with endothelium apoptosis. This study showed that PUMA induced endothelial cell apoptosis may in fact play a significant role in BBB disruption following SAH and its mediation may be through the endoplasmic reticulum. By blocking the activity of PUMA using siRNA, we were able to prevent the accumulation of cerebral edema that occurs following BBB disruption. This translated into a preservation of functional integrity and an improvement in mortality.     

INT-777 attenuates NLRP3-ASC inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation via TGR5/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

BackgroundInflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The activation of the TGR5 receptor has been shown to be neuroprotective in a variety of neurological diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the specific synthetic TGR5 agonist, INT-777, in attenuating NLRP3-ASC inflammasome activation and reducing neuroinflammation after SAH.MethodsOne hundred and eighty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were used. SAH was induced by the endovascular perforation. INT-777 was administered intranasally at 1 h after SAH induction. To elucidate the signaling pathway involved in the effect of INT-777 on inflammasome activation during EBI, TGR5 knockout CRISPR and PKA inhibitor H89 were administered intracerebroventricularly and intraperitoneally at 48 h and 1 h before SAH. The SAH grade, short- and long-term neurobehavioral assessments, brain water content, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and Nissl staining were performed.ResultsThe expressions of endogenous TGR5, p-PKA, and NLRP3-ASC inflammasome were increased after SAH. INT-777 administration significantly decreased NLRP3-ASC inflammasome activation in microglia, reduced brain edema and neuroinflammation, leading to improved short-term neurobehavioral functions at 24 h after SAH. The administration of TGR5 CRISPR or PKA inhibitor (H89) abolished the anti-inflammation effects of INT-777, on NLRP3-ASC inflammasome, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-a), and neutrophil infiltration at 24 h after SAH. Moreover, early administration of INT-777 attenuated neuronal degeneration in hippocampus on 28 d after SAH.ConclusionsINT-777 attenuated NLRP3-ASC inflammasome-dependent neuroinflammation in the EBI after SAH, partially via TGR5/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. Early administration of INT-777 may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for EBI management in the setting of SAH.     

Role of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in early brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and antioxidant-response element (Nrf2-ARE) pathway is a key regulator for modulating inflammation and oxidative damage, which are involved in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Previous studies have demonstrated that Nrf2-ARE pathway play neural protective roles in traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia, and intracerebral hemorrhage models; however, it has not been investigated whether, and to what degree, the Nrf2-ARE pathway is induced by SAH, and the role of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in development of EBI following SAH remains unknown. Experiment 1 sought to investigate the time course of Nrf2-ARE activation in the cortex in the early stage of SAH. In experiment 2, we assessed the effect of sulforaphane (SUL; a specific Nrf2 activator) on regulation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in the SAH model and evaluated the impact of SUL on EBI after SAH. The rat SAH model was used injection of 0.3 ml fresh arterial, nonheparinized blood into the prechiasmatic cistern over 20 sec. As a result, Nrf2 and its target gene product, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were up-regulated in the cortex after SAH and peaked at 24 hr post-SAH. After intraperitoneal SUL administration, the elevated expression of Nrf2-ARE-related factors such as Nrf2, HO-1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and glutathione S-transferase-α1 (GST-α1) was detected in the cortex at 48 hr following blood injection. In the SUL-treated group, early brain damage such as brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, cortical apoptosis, and motor deficits was significantly ameliorated compared with vehicle-treated SAH rats. Our results suggest that the Nrf2-ARE pathway is activated in the brain after SAH, playing a beneficial role in EBI development, possibly through inhibiting cerebral oxidative stress by inducing antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes.     

Nuclear receptor nur77 promotes cerebral cell apoptosis and induces early brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Nur77 is a potent proapoptotic member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that is expressed predominantly in brain tissue. It has been demonstrated that Nur77 mediates apoptosis in multiple organs. Nur77‐mediated early brain injury (EBI) involves a conformational change in BCL‐2 and triggers cytochrome C (cytoC) release resulting in cellular apoptosis. This study investigates whether Nur77 can promote cerebral cell apoptosis after experimentally induced subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups: 1) untreated group, 2) treatment control group, and 3) SAH group. The experimental SAH group was divided into four subgroups, corresponding to 12 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr, and 72 hr after experimentally induced SAH. It remains unclear whether Nur77 can play an important role during EBI after SAH as a proapoptotic protein in cerebral cells. Cytosporone B (Csn‐B) was used to demonstrate that Nur77 could be enriched and used to aggravate EBI after SAH. Rats treated with Csn‐B were given an intraperitoneal injection (13 mg/kg) 30 min after experimentally induced SAH. We found that Nur77 promotes cerebral cell apoptosis by mediating EBI and triggering a conformational change in BCL‐2, resulting in cytoC release. Nur77 activity, along with cerebral cell apoptosis, peaked at 24 hr after SAH onset. After induction of SAH, an injection of Csn‐B, an agonist for Nur77, enhanced the expression and function of Nur77. In summary, we have demonstrated the proapoptotic effect of Nur77 within cerebral cells, an effect that can be further exacerbated with Csn‐B stimulation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

虾青素对小鼠蛛网膜下腔出血早期脑损伤的保护机制的研究

目的 研究虾青素对小鼠蛛网膜下腔出血（SAH）早期脑损伤的保护机制。方法 ICR雄性小鼠采用随机数字法随机分为四组：蛛网膜下腔出血组、假手术组、蛛网膜下腔出血+溶剂组（DMSO）、蛛网膜下腔出血+虾青素组。通过建立小鼠视交叉注血方法建立蛛网膜下腔出血模型，于手术后24 h记录神经功能评分，并应用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的生物素脱氧尿嘧啶核苷酸缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）、western blot法检测脑组织中的NOX2蛋白含量、ELISA法检测TNF-a/IL-1β水平，干湿法检测脑组织中含水量。结果 与对照组相比，SAH后小鼠神经功能损伤评分加重，脑水肿加重，脑组织中的NOX2蛋白及脑组织中凋亡阳性细胞数也显著增多，TNF-a/IL-1β值明显升高；应用虾青素干预以后，小鼠神经功能改善，脑组织凋亡阳性细胞明显减少。同时，虾青素能够降低SAH后小鼠脑组织中NOX2蛋白，TNF-a/IL-1β水平值也明显降低。结论 虾青素对sAH后早期脑损伤（EBI）具有保护作用，其作用机制可能与其抗氧化性有关。     

立体定向脑室注射代谢性谷氨酸受体1拮抗剂对SAH损伤影响的实验

目的研究侧脑室注射代谢性谷氨酸受体1(mGluR1)拮抗剂LY367385是否能减轻小鼠蛛网膜下腔出血(subarachnoid hemorrhage,SAH)后脑组织损伤。方法采用非开颅血管内线栓法制备小鼠SAH模型,随机分为3组:对照组(control组)、模型组[(SAH+生理盐水(NS)组)]、mGluR1拮抗剂LY367385组(SAH+LY367385组),于SAH后10min侧脑室注射NS或LY367385(500nmol)5μl,术后行神经功能评分。分别在SAH后6、24、48h3个时相点取右侧脑组织标本,采用蛋白免疫印迹法(Western biotting)检测mGluR1、p-ERK1/2蛋白的表达;用原位末端标记法(TUNEL)检测神经细胞凋亡情况。结果与对照组比较,模型组小鼠神经功能评分显著降低,各组小鼠mGluR1和p-ERK1/2蛋白均有不同程度增强,凋亡细胞增多。与模型组比较,拮抗剂组小鼠神经功能评分增加,mGluR1、p-ERK1/2蛋白表达均有不同程度下调,神经细胞凋亡数目减少。结论 (1)SAH后mGluR1的表达增强可通过激活ERK信号途径诱导神经细胞凋亡;(2)mGluR1选择性拮抗剂LY367385对脑血管痉挛(cerebral vaso-spasm,CVS)损伤具有保护作用。     

Effect of Interferon-β on Neuroinflammation, Brain Injury and Neurological Outcome After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has a poor outcome, particularly attributed to progressive injury after the initial incident. Several studies suggest a critical role for inflammation in lesion progression after SAH. Our goal was to test whether treatment with anti-inflammatory interferon-β, which has shown promise as a therapeutic agent in experimental ischaemic stroke, can protect the brain after SAH.

Methods

SAH was induced in adult male Wistar rats by puncturing the intracranial bifurcation of the right internal carotid artery. Treatment effects of daily interferon-β (n = 16) or vehicle (n = 14) injections were serially evaluated with multiparametric MRI and behavioral tests from day 0 to 7, in compliance with recent recommendations for pre-clinical drug testing. Outcome measures included neurological status, brain lesion volume, blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage, and levels of inflammatory markers.

Results

In animals that survived up to 7 days post-SAH, we found no significant differences between vehicle- and interferon-β-treated animals with respect to final neurological score (14.3 ± 1.0 vs. 13.0 ± 2.2), brain lesion size on T₂-weighted MR images (59 ± 83 vs. 124 ± 99 mm³), BBB leakage (0.26 ± 0.05 vs. 0.22 ± 0.08 contrast-induced relative MR signal change), upregulation of brain RNA for cytokines, chemokines and cell adhesion molecules, and increased neutrophil activation.

Conclusions

In contrast to previously published findings in experimental ischemic stroke models, interferon-β has no clear efficacy to protect the brain after SAH. In line with recent highlighting of the significance of negative findings, our data currently do not recommend clinical testing of interferon-β to prevent neurological damage in SAH patients.