Effect of caspase-1 inhibitor z-YVAD-fmk on IL-18 and Neurocyte apoptosis and brain water content after traumatic brain injury in rats.
Department of Trauma Surgery, TongJi Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Candidate: Qiu Meiguang Supervisor: Prof. Bai Xiangjun
Abstract Objective: To investigate the effect of caspase-1 inhibitor z-YVAD-fmk on brain edema, neurocyte apoptosis and IL-18 expression following traumatic brain injury in rats.
Methods: One hundred and seventy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, injury group and therapy group. Rat traumatic brain injury model was prepared by modified Feeney free dropping objective. Therapy group injected with z-YVAD-fmk into the right lateral ventricle 30 minutes before and after injury. All rats were decapitated at the scheduled time points. Then we measured the water content of the brain by means of dry-wet weight method, measured the experssion of casp