[Effects of nerve growth factor pretreatment on apoptosis of neurons and expression of Bcl-2, Bax protein in brain tissue following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in gerbils].

Objective: To study the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) pretreatment on apoptosis of neurons and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampus CA1 zone following global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in gerbils and to explore the mechanism of protection and the best time window of NGF pretreatment.

Methods: Global cerebral I/R injury model was induced by occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries. NGF was injected into the lateral ventricle.