Iranian Journal of Pathology

Antiapoptotic Effects of Aspirin on CA1 Pyramidal Neurons in Adult Rats

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Majid Asadi-Shekaari 1
Hassan Eftekhar Vaghefi 2
Masoud Ezzat Abadi pour 2
Vahid Sheibani 1
Ali Shams Ara 2
Parisima Behbahani 3

1 Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Dept. of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Central Lab, Shahid Chamran University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran

Abstract
 
Background and Objective: As one of the widely used drugs, aspirin (acetyl-salicylic acid, ASA) plays an important role in stroke treatment and prevention. In a previous study, we demonstrated ASA injection at 30 min after ischemia onset is neuroprotective. To determine whether the neurons protected by ASA had a normal ultrastructure, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons were examined by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).
Material and Methods: Adult male wistar rats were divided into three different groups (6 animals/group): Sham-operated, control (48 MCAO+vehicle) and aspirin (48 MCAO + ASA).  ASA (30 mg/kg) was injected 30 min after ischemia onset. The animals were killed 2 days after ischemia induction and their brain removed, processed, and examined under a TEM.
Results: Apoptotic changes were observed in rats not treated with ASA. In contrast, pyramidal neuron ultrastructure appeared normal in rats that exhibited neuroprotection (defined at the light microscope level) by ASA when studied two days after ischemia.
Conclusion: We conclude that administration of ASA after permanent focal cerebral ischemia remains a considerable therapeutic strategy.
 

Keywords

aspirin
Ischemia
Apoptosis
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Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
Autumn 2011
Pages 187-192

  • Receive Date 19 September 2014

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