Expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4 in the basilar artery after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Objective: This study investigated the expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4 in the basilar artery in a rat subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model, and clarified the potential role of TRPC1 and TRPC4 in cerebral vasospasm. Methods: Seventy-two rats were randomized into six groups: control, day 1, day 3, day 5, day 7, and day 14 groups. The day 1, day 3, day 5, day 7, and day 14 groups were the SAH groups. The animals in the SAH groups were injected with autologous blood into the cisterna magna once on day 0, and were sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14, respectively. The cross-sectional area of the basilar artery was measured, and morphological changes were detected using light microscopy. Immunohistochemisty, PCR, and western blotting were used to assess the expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4. Results: The rat “double-hemorrhage” model of vasospasm was successfully induced. The cross-sectional area of the basilar artery was 57,944±5,581 μm in the control group, and 32,100±2,439 μm, 19,723±2,412 μm, 26,100±2,639 μm, 34,800±2,580 μm, and 57,100±2,579 μm in the day 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 groups, respectively. The basilar artery exhibited vasospasm after SAH, which became more severe on day 3, and was characterized by arterial narrowing, thickness of arterial wall, and degeneration of the endothelial and smooth muscle cells. In addition, elevated expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4 were detected after SAH, and peaked on day 3. Conclusion: The increased expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4 mirrors the development of cerebral vasospasm in a rat experimental model of SAH. These findings suggest that TRPC1 and TRPC4 may have a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after SAH. [Xiaoou Sun, Shaofeng Yang, Yuan Shi, Chengyuan Ji, Linyuan Wu, Zhong Wang. Expression of TRPC1 and TRPC4 in the basilar artery after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. Life Sci J 2013; 10(3): 26652674]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 385