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Effect of semax and its C-terminal peptide PGP on expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in rat brain during incomplete global ischemia

  • Molecular Biology of the Cell
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Abstract

Neurotrophins regulate key functions of nervous tissue cells. Analysis of neurotrophin mRNA expression is an appropriate tool to assess therapeutic efficiency of antistroke drugs. We have analyzed the effect of synthetic peptide semax and its C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide on mRNA expression of neurotrophins Ngf, Bdnf, and Nt-3 and their receptors TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and p75 in rat frontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. The animals were decapitated at 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after the operation. The mRNA expression of neurotrophins and their receptors was assessed by relative quantification using real-time RT-PCR. Our results demonstrated that ischemia caused a significant decrease in gene expression in the hippocampus. Semax and PGP treatment affected the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors predominantly in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of the ischemized animals. In the frontal cortex, Semax treatment resulted in a decrease of mRNA level of neurotrophin receptors, while PGP treatment increased the level of these mRNA. Maximal neuroprotective effect of both peptides was observed in the hippocampus 12 h after occlusion. A decrease of gene expression of neurotrophins and their receptors caused by the occlusion was overcome by Semax and PGP. These results clarify the mechanism of Semax action and reveal certain features of mRNA expression of neurotrophins and their receptors under experimental conditions.

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Abbreviations

ACTH:

adrenocorticotropic hormone

PCR:

polymerase chain reaction

RT:

reverse transcription

GAPDH:

glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 123182, Russia

    V. V. Stavchansky, S. A. Limborska, N. F. Myasoedov & L. V. Dergunova

  2. Federal Stroke Institute, Russian State Medical University, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    T. V. Tvorogova, A. Yu. Botsina, V. I. Skvortsova, S. A. Limborska & L. V. Dergunova

Authors
  1. V. V. Stavchansky
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  2. T. V. Tvorogova
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  3. A. Yu. Botsina
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  4. V. I. Skvortsova
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  5. S. A. Limborska
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  6. N. F. Myasoedov
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  7. L. V. Dergunova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Yu. Botsina.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © V.V. Stavchansky, T.V. Tvorogova, A.Yu. Botsina, V.I. Skvortsova, S.A. Limborska, N.F. Myasoedov, L.V. Dergunova, 2011, published in Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, 2011, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1026–1035.

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Stavchansky, V.V., Tvorogova, T.V., Botsina, A.Y. et al. Effect of semax and its C-terminal peptide PGP on expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in rat brain during incomplete global ischemia. Mol Biol 45, 941–949 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893311050128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026893311050128

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