Abstract: Objective　To observe effects and mechanism of Apelin-13 microinjection into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus on gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods 　 After Apelin-13 was microinjected into PVN, the experimental model of GI-R was established by clamping the celiac artery for 30 min and then reperfusing the artery for 1 h. We used immunohistochemistry to detect the gastric mucosal cells apoptosis, proliferation and the expression of BCL-2, BAX. Results (1) Apelin-13 microinjection into the PVN could aggravate GI-R injury in an dose-dependent manner by using 0.2 , 1.0 or 5.0 μg, respectively. (2) Compared with GI-R group, Apelin-13 microinjection into the PVN markedly increased gastric mucosal cellular apoptosis, decreased the proliferation, and promoted the protein expression of BAX, but obviously inhibited the protein expression of BCL-2. Conclusion Apelin-13 microinjection into the PVN could aggravate GI-R injury by promoting gastric mucosal cellular apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation.

Key words: Apelin-13, paraventricular nucleus ( PVN), gastric ischemia-reperfusion (GI-R), cellular apoptosis, BCL-2, BAX