Minocycline reduces reactive gliosis in the rat model of hydrocephalus

Abstract

Background: Reactive gliosis had been implicated in injury and recovery patterns associated with hydrocephalus. Our aim is to determine the efficacy of minocycline, an antibiotic known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce reactive gliosis and inhibit the development of hydrocephalus.

Results: The ventricular dilatation were evaluated by MRI at 1-week post drugs treated, while GFAP and Iba-1were detected by RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression of GFAP and Iba-1 was significantly higher in hydrocephalic group compared with saline control group (p < 0.05). Minocycline treatment of hydrocephalic animals reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 significantly (p < 0.05). Likewise, the severity of ventricular dilatation is lower in minocycline treated hydrocephalic animals compared with the no minocycline group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Minocycline treatment is effective in reducing the gliosis and delaying the development of hydrocephalus with prospective to be the auxiliary therapeutic method of hydrocephalus.

Figure 1

The relative locations of a rat brain used for various assays in this study. The first part for pathological study the second for immunohistochemical study; the third for Western blotting and the fourth for qRT-PCR analysis

Figure 2

Coronal T₂-weighted MR images of controls and rats with hydrocephalus are shown

Figure 3

Mean ranking score for GFAP(A) and AIF-1(B) expression in brain tissue for sham Control group(n=10), Hydrocephalic with minocycline group(n=9) and Hydrocephalic no minocycline group(n=9). The result were expressed GFAP/β-actin or Iba-1/β-actin. The Hydrocephalic no minocycline rats expressed levels increased(P<0.01) of GFAP protein and AIF-1 when compared with Sham control animals(#). The GFAP and AIF-1 expression of Hydrocephalic with minocycline group are lower(P<0.05) than that of no minocycline group(*)

Figure 4

Representive images of GFAP(A) and Iba-1(B) of the preventricular tissue (white matter dorsal to frontal horn of lateral ventricle)

Figure 5

Proteins were processed for Western blot to assess levels of GFAP and Iba-1(A). Mean ranking score of GFAP(B) and Iba-1(C) in brain tissue for Sham Control group(n=10), Hydrocephalic with minocycline group(n=9) and Hydrocephalic no minocycline group(n=9) were analysed. The Hydrocephalic no minocycline group expressed levels significantly(P<0.01) increased of GFAP and Iba-1 protein when compared with Sham control animals (#). The GFAP and Iba-1 expression of Hydrocephalic with minocycline group are lower(P<0.05) than that of no minocycline group(*)