Study on the change of Caspase-3 and protective effect of EGb in hypoxic ischemic brain damage of neonatal rats

To assess the expression of Caspase-3 protein in brain after hypoxic ischemic (HI) and investigate the protective effect of extract of ginkgo biloba (EGb) on hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. The HIBD animal models were made by ligating the uterine arteries of pregnant rat. EGb was injected into the HIBD models. The expression of Caspase-3 protein in brain after HI was observed. As a Result Caspase-3 protein expression was elevated after HI and reperfusion while apoptosis of cerebral cells were also elevated. The study showed that the Caspase-3 protein was decreased with the treatment of EGb after HI. EGb decreased the apoptosis of cerebral cells. This indicates Caspase-3 may be function as a cell death effector protein. EGb has protective effect on HIBD which minimize the expression of Caspase-3 protein.