Expression and significance of HIF 1αand GLUT 3 in the cerebral cortex of rat with traumatic brain injury

Wu Xiaogang; Liu Jiachuan; Wang Jinbiao; Yang Yanyan; Zhou Zhimin

doi:10.11850/j.issn.1009-122X.2015.01.014

Abstract：Objective To investigate the expression of hypoxia inducing factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) and glucose transporters-3 (GLUT-3) in the cerebral cortex in rats with traumatic brain injury and analyze the correlation between them. Methods One hundred and eight SD rats were randomly assigned to normal control group (n = 12) and experimental group (n = 96). The TBI model was established in experimental group by the freely falling body injury method and no injury was performed in normal control group. Expressions of HIF-1αand GLUT-3 mRNA and protein were detected in the contusion area by RT-PCR and Western blot 1, 4, 8, 12 h and 1, 3, 7, 14 d after injury. Results RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of HIF-1αand GLUT-3 mRNA in experimental group increased at 4 h, reached peak at 12 h and decreased to normal 7 d after injury. Compared with normal control group, the expressions of HIF-1α and GLUT-3 mRNA were significantly different during the period from 4 h to 3 d after injury in experimental group (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the expression of HIF-1α and GLUT-3 protein in experimental group increased at 4 h, reached peak at 1 d and decreased to normal at 7 d after injury. Compared with normal control group, the expressions of HIF-1α and GLUT-3 protein were significantly different during the period from 4 h to 3 d after injury in experimental group (P<0.05). There were positive correlations between HIF-1αand GLUT-3 in mRNA and protein expressions (r=0.894, P<0.05;r=0.921, P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of HIF-1αmRNA and protein in the brain cortex increases after TBI, which may mediate increase of GLUT-3 expression, thus playing a role in neuroprotection.