Mild hypothermia protects against injury of rat hippocampal neurons induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation

AIM：To study the protective effect of mild hypothermia (31~32 °C) on rat hippocampal neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced injury and its possible mechanisms. METHODS：An OGD experimental model of rat hippocampal neurons in vitro was established to simulate cerebral ischemic-hypoxic injury. The rat hippocampal neurons were randomly divided into 4 groups：control group, mild hypothermia group, OGD group and mild hypothermia+OGD group. The cell morphology was observed under light and electron microscopes. The neuronal apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The activity of caspase-3 in the cytoplasm was measured by colorimetry. RESULTS：The neuronal injury was apparent after OGD, with a great increase in apoptotic rate (P<0.01). Compared with OGD group, the morphology of neuronal injury in mild hypothermia+OGD group was attenuated, and the neuronal apoptotic rate and the activity of caspase-3 in the cytoplasm decreased. The activity of caspase-3 in the cytoplasm increased after OGD, and was positively correlated with the neuronal apoptotic rate (r=0.823, P<0.05). The activity of caspase-3 in the cytoplasm also increased after mild hypothermia and OGD, and was also positively correlated with the neuronal apoptotic rate (r=0.841, P<0.05). CONCLUSION：OGD can increase caspase-3 activity in the neuronal cytoplasm and induce neuronal apoptosis. Restraint on caspase-3 activity in the neuronal cytoplasm may be the mechanism by which mild hypothermia protects against neuronal injury induced by OGD.