Exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor attenuates neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Huayun Chen; Yanwei Dang; Xiao Liu; Junwei Ren; Hongquan Wang

doi:10.3892/etm.2019.8029

Exogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor attenuates neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Exp Ther Med. 2019 Nov;18(5):3837-3844. doi: 10.3892/etm.2019.8029. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Authors

Huayun Chen¹, Yanwei Dang¹, Xiao Liu¹, Junwei Ren¹, Hongquan Wang¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor crucial for neuronal survival, while its role in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced neuronal apoptosis remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether administering exogenous BDNF can protect against neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits following SAH in a rat model. The BDNF level was found to be significantly decreased in the basal cortex at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h following SAH. Exogenous BDNF significantly decreased the expression of Bax and reduced activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the number of apoptotic neurons. Moreover, exogenous BDNF treatment significantly improved the neurological deficits at 72 h and long-term behavioral deficits (day 14) following SAH in a rat model. These findings indicate that exogenous BDNF attenuated SAH-induced neuronal injury in rats.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; neurological deficits; neuronal apoptosis; subarachnoid hemorrhage.