In conclusion, these data show that DEX successfully reduced post-stroke brain edema by decreasing MMP-9 and ICAM-1 levels, partially through the IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway. The timing of DEX administration in relation to the onset of brain injury may be critical.
Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Thus, the identification of novel therapeutic agents for preventing strokes and attenuating poststroke brain damage is crucial. Dexamethasone (DEX) is used clinically to reduce edema formation in patients with spinal cord injury and brain tumors. In this study, we sought to elucidate the effects of DEX treatment on apoptosis and inflammation following ICH in rats. A high dose of DEX (15 mg/kg) was administered immediately following ICH induction and again 3 days later. The inflammatory and apoptotic responses in the rat brains were evaluated by using hematoxylin-eosin, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, Nissl, and neurofilament-H staining. Levels of phosphorylated neurofilaments and apoptosis-related proteins such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), caspase-3, and P53 were analyzed by Western blotting. This study shows that rats without ICH that received DEX treatment had a fourfold higher expression of Bcl-2 than sham-operated rats. ICH causes an increase in Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and P53 proteins from 4 hr to 7 days following ICH induction. In comparison with the ICH rats, the ICH/DEX rats showed significantly decreased apoptotic cell death and increased neuron survival and maintained neurofilament integrity in the perihematomal region. DEX increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and lowered the expression of cleaved caspase-3 at 12 hr and 5 days. The ICH rats were accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response, and DEX treatment modulated the expression of a variety of cell types and then decreased ICH-induced apoptosis.
In vitro cultivation of primary bovine knee chondrocytes (BKCs), using bovine pituitary extract (BPE) and porous scaffolds composed of polyglycolide (PGA) and 85/15 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), was investigated. Here, BPE was prepared from fresh bovine pituitaries, and cylindrical PGA/PLGA scaffolds with various chemical compositions were fabricated by solvent merging/particulate leaching method. Experimental results showed that in microcarrier systems, the rate of BKC growth on PGA surfaces is faster than that on PLGA surfaces, and the decrease in the medium pH value of BKCs-adsorbed PGA particles is faster than that of BKCs-adsorbed PLGA particles. After 28-day construct cultivation, the BKC amount and the content of glycosaminoglycans and collagen per construct increased with BPE protein concentration. For a constant BPE protein concentration, a higher PGA percentage in scaffold leads to a better biological environment for the growth of BKCs and the synthesis of extracellar matrices.
Traumatic spinal cord injury is clinically treated by high doses of methylprednisolone. However, the effect of methylprednisolone on the brain in spinal cord injury patients has been little investigated. This experimental study examined Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression and Nissl staining to evaluate an apoptosis-related intracellular signaling event and final neuron death, respectively. Spinal cord injury produced a significant apoptotic change and cell death not only in the spinal cord but also in the supraventricular cortex and hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 region in the rat brains. The treatment of methylprednisolone increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and prevented neuron death for 1-7 days after spinal cord injury. These findings suggest that rats with spinal cord injury show ascending brain injury that could be restricted through methylprednisolone management.
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