Tat-NR2B9c attenuates oxidative stress via inhibition of PSD95-NR2B-nNOS complex after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

Oxidative stress plays important roles in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Tat-NR2B9c has shown efficacy as a neuroprotective agent in several studies. Here, we identified the neuroprotective role of Tat-NR2B9c after SAH and its related mechanisms. The results showed that Tat-NR2B9c treatment attenuated oxidative stress, therefore alleviated neuronal apoptosis and neurological deficits after SAH. Tat-NR2B9c treatment could alleviate mitochondrial vacuolization induced by SAH. Compared to SAH + vehicle group, Tat-NR2B9c resulted in the decrease of Acetylated superoxide dismutase2 (Ac-SOD2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved-caspase3 (CC3) protein expression, and the up-regulation of Sirtunin 3 (Sirt3) and Bcl-2 protein level. Moreover, Tat-NR2B9c attenuated excitotoxicity by inhibiting the interaction of PSD95-NR2B-nNOS. Our results demonstrated that Tat-NR2B9c inhibited oxidative stress via inhibition of PSD95-NR2B-nNOS complex formation after SAH. Tat-NR2B9c may serve as a potential treatment for SAH induced brain injury.