Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Down-Regulates Autophagic Proteins (LC3II and Beclin-1) in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe brain disease that often leads to death or irreversible sequelae. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a naturally active drug (grape seed proanthocyanidin extract [GSPE]) on the expression of autophagic proteins in a mouse model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. In this study immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of autophagy markers (LC3II and beclin1) in the brains of neonatal mice with hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries after GSPE administration. Our study showed that GSPE pre-treatment down-regulates LC3II and beclin-1 expression, thus GSPE may be a potential drug for the treatment of HIE.