Autophagy, mitophagy and apoptotic gene changes in the hippocampal CA1 area in a rat ischemic model of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Background: Postichemic brain injury correlates with poor prognosis since selectively vulnerable parts of brain are associated with apoptotic neuronal death. But autophagy has been recognized, as a probable survival mechanism following brain ischemia.

Methods: We have analyzed, by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR assay protocol, three genes: autophagy, mitophagy and caspase 3 for neuronal death response in ischemic hippocampal CA1 area.

Results: We have found that autophagy gene was not significantly modified at all time points after ischemia, whereas mitophagy and caspase 3 genes were upregulated at day 2 and decreased to basal values at days 7 and 30.

Conclusion: It may be inferred that mitophagy process markedly accompanies apoptosis during delayed neuronal death in hippocampal CA1 area following brain ischemia.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Brain ischemia; Delayed neuronal death; Genes; Hippocampal CA1 area.