Basic Research
Effects of paired associative stimulation on synaptic ultrastructure, neuron apoptosis and BDNF in rats with cerebral infarct
Xiangyu Zhang, Yan Hu, Tiecheng Guo, Yinshan Lu, Xiujuan Zhang, Song Zhang
Published 2019-11-25
Cite as Chin J Phys Med Rehabil, 2019, 41(11): 812-817. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2019.11.003
Abstract
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of paired associative stimulation (PAS) on synaptic ultrastructure, neuron apoptosis and BDNF in rats with cerebral infarct, and explore the possible underlying mechanisms.
MethodsForty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operation group, a model group and a PAS group, with 15 rats in each. All the rats underwent a surgical operation for transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on the right side to model focal cerebral ischemia, with those in the sham operation group left without real occlusion. PAS treatment was given to rats in the PAS group 24h after MCAO model was successfully established, while no special intervention was given to those in the sham operation group and model group. After 28 days of treatment, transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the ultrastructure of the ischemic penumbra, TUNEL was used to observe the apoptosis of cortex neurons, and real time-PCR to investigate BDNF mRNA expression.
ResultsIt was found that after 28 days treatment: ①The synaptic curvature, the synapse length and the post-synaptic density (PSD) decreased significantly in the rats of model group in contrast to those of the sham control group (P<0.05). And compare to model group, the synaptic curvature, the synapse length and the PSD increased significantly in the rats of PAS group (P<0.05). ②Compare to sham control group, the apoptosis rate of model group and PAS group increased significantly (P<0.05). And the apoptosis rate of PAS group decreased significantly in contrast to those of model group (P<0.05). ③Compare to sham control group, BDNF mRNA expression of the PAS group increased significantly(P<0.05), while BDNF mRNA expression of the model group decreased significantly(P<0.05). BDNF mRNA expression of the PAS group increased significantly in contrast to those of model group (P<0.05).
ConclusionPAS promotes neural plasticity and inhibits apoptosis of cortex neurons of the ischemic penumbra in rats with ischemic cerebral infarction. One of the underlying mechanisms might be related to the up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression.
Key words:
Paired associative stimulation; Synaptic ultrastructure; Apoptosis; BDNF
Contributor Information
Xiangyu Zhang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the 5th Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 470000, China
Yan Hu
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
Tiecheng Guo
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Yinshan Lu
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
Xiujuan Zhang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Song Zhang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
