Abstract: Objective The 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) is a highly stress-inducible member of a chaperone family of proteins. Overexpressing HSP72 is protective against focal and global cerebral ischemia. We assessed the expression of HSP72 in cortex and hippocampus after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. Methods 36 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: single intracisternal blood injection, double intracisternal blood injection and sham operation. The rat in intracisternal blood injection groups were subjected to injection of autologous blood into cisterna magna once or twice on day 0 and day 2 and were sacrificed on days 3, respectively. The expression of HSP72 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western-blot technique. Results HSP72 expression was detected in intracisternal blood injection group by immunohistochemistry. Semiquantitative analysis of HSP72 electrophoretic bands indicated more expression in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in both injection groups compared with the sham group(P＜0.01). While there was no significant differences in the two injection groups(P＞0.05). Conclusion Subarachnoid hemorrhage produced by single and double intracisternal autogenious blood injection can cause HSP72 overexpression in hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

Key words: Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Cerebral vasospasm, HSP72