Morphological changes of neurons in hippocampus of gerbil following hyperbaric oxygen-induced convulsion

doi:10.3321/j.issn:1673-8225.2003.19.006

Abstract：Aim To explore whether transient oxygen convulsion can cause apoptosis and morphlogical changes of neurons in hippocampus and provide theoretical basis for prevention and treatment of oxygen convulsion.Methods 8 healthy male gerbils were used and experiments were carried out after 1 week of observation and quarantine.Gerbils were divided by random number table into normal control and transient convulsion groups with 4 gerbils in each groups.Transient oxygen convulsion was induced by 0.5 Mpa hyperbaric oxygen(gerbils were taken out 5 min later following first convulsion),then morphological changes of neurons in hippocampus were observed by HE,TUNEL and immunohistochemical LSAB staining.Results At 3 days after transient convulsion,no apoptosis of neurons was found in brain sections by HE and TUNEL staining,morphology and number of neurons (203± 14)/mm2 showed no obvious changes compared with control group (200± 13)/mm2,(P >0.5).Strong positive expression of B lymphoma-2 gene(bcl-2) protein was found in brain sections stained immunochemically while no expression in control group.Conclusion Transient oxygen doesn't cause neuronal death of neurons in hippocampus,but can induce expression of bcl-2 gene and protect neurons in some degree which might be the intracellular antioxygen convulsion mechanism in hippocampus neurons.