Effects of hydroxyapatite extract on rats with transient ischemia: Long-term potentiation and axon regeneration.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been extensively used as a reconstructive and prosthetic material for osseous tissue. The present study aimed to determine whether HA extract exerted effects on central nervous system injury following transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with HA following bilateral common carotid artery clamping (two-vessel occlusion). The results demonstrated that treatment with HA extract attenuated the inhibition of long-term potential in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Furthermore, HA extract improved axon regeneration, which was confirmed via the immunohistochemical analysis of growth associated protein 43 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Taken together, the results of the present study provided preliminary evidence of the protective effect of HA on neuronal damage.