Expression of Npas4 after cerebral ischemia in a MCAO rat model

The expression levels of neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4 (Npas4) in response to ischemic stroke at different points in time were investigated in this study. Adult male SD Rats were randomly divided into eight groups as control (normal control) group, sham (sham operated) group, Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) 3h group, MCAO 6h group, MCAO 12h group, MCAO 24h group, MCAO 48h group and MCAO 72h group. We examined the mRNA and protein expression levels of Npas4 in the brain subjected to ischemic injury at different points in time by using western blotting, immuno histochemistry and Real time-qPCR. The expression level of Npas4 was up-regulated in the brain subjected to ischemic stroke. The up-regulation of Npas4 in response to cerebral ischemia in acute phase indicates that Npas4 may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of post-infarction.