Figure 5

RTN1-C downregulation using its specific shRNA reduced neural apoptosis in MCAO rats. (a) Rats were given intracerebroventricular injections with LV-shNC or LV-shRTN1-C for 7 days, then the rats were subjected to a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h, followed by 12 or 24 h of reperfusion. The efficiency of LV-shRTN1-C in the brain tissues was detected by western blot. (b) Representative immunofluorescence staining of cleaved-caspase-3 in MCAO rats after given intracerebroventricular injections with LV-shNC or LV-shRTN1-C for 7 days. Cleaved-caspase-3 (red), RTN1-C (green) and DAPI (blue), Scale bar=20 μm. (c) Quantification of green fluorescence intensity of RTN1-C immunostaining in (b). Data are expressed as mean±S.D. n=5, ***P<0.001. (d) Representative TTC stains of 6 corresponding coronal brain sections. Ischemic infarctions appear white. (e) Brain infarct volumes were quantified. n=3, *P<0.05. (f) Neurological Bederson score assessed at day 1 after reperfusion in MCAO rats. n=5, **P<0.01