Expression of nerve growth inhibiting factor Nogo-A in ischemic infarct brain in rats

AIM: To investigate the dynamic changes of Nogo-A expression in ischemic infarct brain in rats. METHODS: The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in 80 rats was established and expression of Nogo-A mRNA was measured by immunohistochemistry and hybridization. RESULTS: In the brain of MCAO rats, Nogo-A mRNA expression was decreased at the third day and increased significantly at the 7th day, and reached high level at the 21th day, then remained the high level to the 28th day. Nogo-A protein expression showed the same results. CONCLUSION: Expression of Nogo-A did not change in the early stage of MCAO, but increased significantly in the late stage of MCAO, suggesting that Nogo-A expression may play an important role in the nerve regeneration of brain ischemic injury.