The expression of PGC-1αin the mice brain after traumatic brain injury

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional co-activator that co-ordinately regulates genes required for mitochondrial biogenesis and is a key contributor to the up-regulation of antioxidant activities in response to oxidative stress. The expression pattern of PGC-1α after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been studied.Ninety male ICR mice (28-32 g) were randomly assigned to six groups: sham, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after TBI. PGC-1α mRNA levels in mice brain were detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and its nuclear protein levels by Western blot from 3-48 hours after TBI. PGC-1α distribution in the cerebral cortex after TBI was investigated by immunohistochemistry.The PGC-1α mRNA level significantly increased from 3 hours after TBI, peaked at 6 hours and gradually decreased from 12 to 48 hours. The nuclear PGC-1α protein level increased from 6 to 24 hours after TBI and decreased at 48 hours after TBI. Increased PGC-1α immunostaining was detected in the neurons of the cerebral cortex at 12 hours after TBI.PGC-1α may play an important role in the brain after TBI.