[Brain injury in adenosine A1 receptor knock-out mice after pentetrazole kindling and its correlation with COX-2].

Objective To investigate the brain injury of neurocytes in hippocampus of adenosine A1 receptor knock-out mice during pentetrazole kindling and detect the correlation of brain injury and the expression of COX-2 so as to evaluate the neuroprotective function of adenosine A1 receptor and its mechanism.Methods The animals were divided into two groups:wild type group and KO group.The kindling model was established by iniection of pentetrazole into abdominal cavity.The expression of brain injury related protein,casepase-3 and COX-2 in hippocampus was investigated separately at different time points(24 hour,1 month) post-kindling.Results The expression of Caspase-3 and COX-2 increased in KO group both during acute and chronic phases post-kindling compared with normal mice.There was statistical difference(P＜0.05).Furthermore,the expression levels of two proteins were higher at 1 month compared with 24 hour(P＜0.01).These results indicated that the increased expression of Caspase-3 and COX-2 post-kindling was earlier and much more in KO mice as compared with wild-type ones.Conclusion Adenosine exerts strong neuroprotective functions through the activation of adenosine al receptor.This receptor reduces cell apoptosis during pentetrazole kindling.Cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)reflects the extent of brain injury.The neuroprotective function mediated by adenosine A1 receptor might be related with COX-2. Key words: A1 receptor knock-out mice; Apoptosis; Caspase-3; Cyclooxygenase-2