[ER-alpha, IGF-1R expressions and co-expressions in newborn rats with experimental hypoxic-ischemic brain damage].

Objective: To observe the distribution and change of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and their co-expression in the brains of normal newborn female rats and in the brains of those with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).

Methods: The 7 day-old female SD rats were subjected to the ligation of right carotid artery (ischemia), then they were put into a box full with 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen for an hour (hypoxia). The methods of immunohistochemistry and double-immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of IGF-1R, ER-alpha and their co-expression in the brain.

Results: (1) There were extensive immunoreactions of IGF-IR, ER-alpha in newborn rat's brain, and there were extensive co-localization of IGF-1R and ER-alpha in the same cells of cerebral cortex. (2) There were no changes in the expressions of IGF-1R and ER-alpha, no changes in the co-expression of IGF-1R and ER-alpha at 24 hours of HIBD; whereas there were increasing expressions of IGF-1R, ER-alpha and increasing co-expression of IGF-1R, ER-alpha in the cerebral cortex on the 7th day of HIBD.

Conclusion: The above results suggest that there are co-action of IGF-1R and ER-alpha in the repair of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.