Research article
Minocycline reduces reactive gliosis in the rat model of hydrocephalus
- † Equal contributors
Author affiliations
1 Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliate Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361003, China
2 School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361003, China
3 Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361003, China
Citation and License
BMC Neuroscience 2012, 13:148 doi:10.1186/1471-2202-13-148
Published: 5 December 2012Abstract
Background
Reactive gliosis had been implicated in injury and recovery patterns associated with hydrocephalus. Our aim is to determine the efficacy of minocycline, an antibiotic known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce reactive gliosis and inhibit the development of hydrocephalus.
Results
The ventricular dilatation were evaluated by MRI at 1-week post drugs treated, while GFAP and Iba-1were detected by RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression of GFAP and Iba-1 was significantly higher in hydrocephalic group compared with saline control group (p < 0.05). Minocycline treatment of hydrocephalic animals reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 significantly (p < 0.05). Likewise, the severity of ventricular dilatation is lower in minocycline treated hydrocephalic animals compared with the no minocycline group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Minocycline treatment is effective in reducing the gliosis and delaying the development of hydrocephalus with prospective to be the auxiliary therapeutic method of hydrocephalus.
