Effect of crocin on expression of P53 and apoptosis in hippocampus under hypoxia at high altitude in rats

Objective To observe the effect of crocin in advance of the medication on the apoptosis and P 53 expression in hippo-campus under hypoxia at high altitude in rats .Methods SD rats were randomly divided into hypoxia control and hypoxia treatment groups . The SD rats in treatment group were injected Crocin once daily (50 mg? kg-1? d-1 ) and the model group were injected the same dose of 0. 9% Nacl for 3 days,and then they were shifted to high altitude 4 200 m and then the samples were taken at 1 d,3 d,5 d,7 d.The apoptosis of nerve cells was determined by TUNEL .P53 protein was detected by Western blot and mRNA was detected by RT -PCR.Results Com-pared with the control group, treatment group showed significantly lower in the apoptosis rate at 1,3,5,7 d(P<0.05).The results of RT-PCR showed that P53 mRNA in hippocampus of rats was lower in treatment group than that of control group at 1, 3, 5,7 d (P<0.05). Western blot showed that P53 protein in hippocampus of rats was obviously lower in treatment group than that of control group at 1,3, 5, 7 d (P<0.05).Conclusions Crocin pretreatment could reduce the expression of P 53 and the apoptosis in hippocampus at acute high altitude hypoxia conditions,and protect the nerve cells in hippocampus and ameliorate the nerve function by regulating the P 53 signal.