Changes of AIF (Apoptosis Inducing Factor) in the Basal Ganglia of Neonatal Rat Brain Induced by Hypoxic-ischemic Injury

Lee, Young Il

Abstract

The caudate-putamen is generally referred to as the striatum or neostriatum, which is one of the main components of the basal ganglia and this designation, is especially relevant in the rat. In spite of the fact that it comprises one of the major parts in central nervous system, studies on how seriously vulnerable this area to cerebral ischemia especially in neonates is still remained. In this study, using neonatal (7 days postnatal) rats, we speculated the significance of AIF in the apoptotic neuronal cell death in basal ganglia induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury. For this study, we introduced permanent common carotid artery occlusion and then, exposed to 6% oxygen for 2 hours and the results are as follows: 1. There were tendency of increasing AIF immunoreactivity induced by hypoxic-ischemic insult in neonatal basal ganglia at 12 & 24 hrs after hypoxic-ischemic insult. 2. Western Blotting analysis showed increased AIF expression in basal ganglia at 12 hrs(caudate-putamen) & 24 hrs (globus pallidus) after hypoxic-ischemic insult. 3. Evidence of localization of AIF in glial cells as well as in neurons obtained by double-immunofluorescence staining. Our results seem to provide evidences on the involvement of AIF in the apoptotic neuronal cell loss with hypoxicischemic insult in neonatal rat. Furthermore, localization AIF in glial cells as well as in neurons suggests involvement of neuroglial cells in the apoptotic pathway in neonatal basal ganglia induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury.