Immunohistochemical investigation of caspase-3 in neuronal apoptosis after experimental closed head trauma

The aim of this study was to investigate the caspase-3 activity in neuronal apoptosis after experimental closed head trauma model in rats. twenty adult male rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and trauma groups. in trauma group, a cranial impact was delivered to the skull from a height of 7 cm at a point just in front of the coronal suture and over the right hemisphere. rats were sacrificed at 12 hours after the onset of injury. brain tissues were removed for histopathological investigation. in the trauma group, the neurons became extensively dark and degenerated into picnotic nuclei. the number of apoptotic neurons in frontal cortex tissue of trauma group was significantly more than control groups. in conclusion, the caspase 3 immunopositivity was increased in degenerating neurons of the frontal cortex tissue following trauma. the present results indicate that closed head trauma caused degenerative changes and increased caspase 3 immonupositivity in neurons.