Does neuroglobin protect neurons from ischemic insult? A quantitative investigation of neuroglobin expression following transient MCAo in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Abstract
Neuroglobin (NGB) is a recently characterized heme globin expressed primarily in retinal nerve cells and at very low levels in endocrine-active regions of vertebrate brains. When artificially over-expressed, NGB reduces the infarct size observed after transient Middle Cerebral Artery occlusion (tMCAo) in rats. This study addresses the post-ischemic NGB expression in vivo. Ten Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRs) were randomized to tMCAo (n = 6) or sham (n = 4), and euthanized 24 h later. NGB mRNA expression was determined by means of quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Reaction (qRT-PCR). Thirteen animals subjected to either 90 min tMCAo (n = 7) or sham (n = 6) surgery, were euthanized 1 week after surgery. Post-ischemic expression of NGB and the neuronal marker NeuN was studied using free-floating immunohistochemistry. Design-based stereological quantification of NGB- and NeuN-positive cells in the striatum was performed using the optical fractionator. Significantly less NGB mRNA was expressed in the ischemic hemispheres of tMCAo animals after 24 h (P < or = 0.002). At the protein level, we found a significantly lower number of NGB- and NeuN-positive striatal neurons in tMCAo rats (P < or = 0.004). NGB expression w...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Neuroglobin is an endogenous neuroprotectant for retinal ganglion cells against glaucomatous damage.
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