Effect of β-sodium aescinate on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in rat brain cortex after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

BACKGROUND:This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a(HIF-1a) in rat cerebral cortex and the effects of p-sodium aescinate(SA) administration after return of spontaneous circulation(ROSC).METHODS:Sixty rats were divided into three groups:SA group,injected intraperitoneally with SA instantly after ROSC;control group,injected intraperitoneally with normal saline;and shamoperated group,without cardiac arrest or SA.The cardiac arrest model was established using asphyxiation and intravenous potassium chloride.Blood was sampled 1,6,12,and 24 hours after ROSC.Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1a,VEGF and EPO were detected in the cerebral cortex by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR;serum levels of NSE and S100 P were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.RESULTS:Serum S100β and NSE were significantly increased in the control group versus the sham-operated group 1,6,12 and 24 hours after ROSC(P<0.05).Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1a,VEGF and EPO were significantly increased in the control rats(P<0.05).Serum NSE and S100 P were significantly decreased in the SA group versus the control group 1,6,12 and 24 hours after ROSC(P<0.05).Protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1a,VEGF and EPO were significantly increased in the SA group(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:The expression of HIF-1a is increased in rat cerebral cortex after ROSC,and SA up-regulates the expression of HIF-1α.The up-regulation of HIF-1α improves the resistance of the cortex to ischemia and hypoxia and contributes to neuroprotection,possibly because of up-regulation of EPO and VEGF expression.