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

J Neurosci Res. 2013 Dec;91(12):1599-608. doi: 10.1002/jnr.23281. Epub 2013 Sep 16.

Abstract

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 .

Keywords: NF-κB/Bcl-xL; apoptosis; early brain injury; hydrogen; subarachnoid hemorrhage.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Hydrogen / pharmacology*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Male
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Sodium Chloride / chemistry
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / metabolism*
  • bcl-X Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Hydrogen