Preconditioning induces prolonged expression of transcription factors pCREB and NF-[kappa]B in the neocortex of rats before and following severe hypobaric hypoxia

• Published in: Journal of neurochemistry 2008-08, Vol.106 (3), p.1450
• Main Authors: Rybnikova, Elena, Gluschenko, Tatjana, Tulkova, Ekaterina, Churilova, Anna, Jaroshevich, Oksana, Baranova, Ksenia, Samoilov, Michail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3042; 1471-4159
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05516.x

Preconditioning using mild repetitive hypobaric hypoxia is known to increase a tolerance of brain neurons to severe hypoxia and other injurious exposures. In the present study, the effects of mild hypoxic preconditioning on the expression of transcription factors NF-[kappa]B and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) has been studied in the neocortex of rats exposed to severe hypobaric hypoxia. As revealed by quantitative immunocytochemistry, the injurious severe hypobaric hypoxia (180 Torr, 3 h) remarkably reduced the neocortical levels of pCREB and NF-[kappa]B. The three-trial hypoxic preconditioning (360 Torr, 2 h, 3 days) induced persistent up-regulation of pCREB and NF-[kappa]B expression in the neocortex of rats 3-24 h following the severe hypoxia. In addition, the preconditioning alone which was not followed by the severe hypoxia, considerably increased neocortical pCREB and NF-[kappa]B levels. The findings suggest a role for transcription factors cAMP response element-binding protein and NF-[kappa]B in the neuroprotective mechanisms activated by the hypoxic preconditioning. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]