OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and neurocyte apoptosis after cerebral infarction in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Neural stem cells were isolated from rats by establishing the cerebral infarction model and sham model. Isolated cells were cultured in complete culture medium in vitro. Real-time quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of ERK1 and ERK2 in the MARK pathway. Western blotting was applied to examine the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway and neuron-specific markers. The expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected via immunofluorescence. Cell activity and apoptosis were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS

The mRNA expressions of ERK1 and ERK2 in neural stem cells increased in a time-dependent manner after cerebral infarction in rats. The expressions of ERK1, ERK2, cyclin D1, Nestin, NSE and glial fibrillary acidic-protein (GFAP) in neural stem cells were significantly decreased after being treated with SCH772984. Cell activity, proliferation and differentiation were markedly inhibited. However, cleaved-caspase 3 protein and apoptosis rate were remarkably increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The MAPK/ERK pathway seriously affects neurocyte apoptosis after cerebral infarction in rats. When the MAPK/ERK pathway is inhibited, neurocyte apoptosis is remarkably increased after cerebral infarction in rats.