Relationship between c-fos gene expression and delayed neuronal death in rat neonatal hippocampus following hypoxic-ischemic insult

Objective To explore the mechanism of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia encephalop athy, we studied the expression of the c-fos gene and its relationship with delayed neuronal death in a rat model. Methods Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia was produced in 7-day-old SD rats using t he Rice model. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUN EL) were used to detect the expression of c-fos gene and cell apoptosis in the hippocampus. Results The selective expression of c-fos and delayed cell apoptosis were o bserved in the hypoxia-ischemia hippocampus. Expression of the c-fos gene w as seen in the CA4 and cingulate sulcus neurons, and apoptosis was observed in the CA1 neurons. Conclusion Transient expression of the c-fos gene may induce cerebral cell apoptosis, and may have complex relations with delayed cell death.