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Published on: November 20, 2015
Expression of peroxiredoxin 1, 2, and 6 in the rat brain during perinatal development and in response to
So-Yeon Shim1, Han-Suk Kim, Ee-Kyung Kim
1Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Antioxidant proteins called peroxiredoxins (Prdx) are vital in the neonatal brain. Researchers found Prdx 1, 2, and 6 are abundant and change during development, with Prdx 6 levels affected by dexamethasone.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Peroxiredoxins (Prdx) are antioxidant proteins crucial for protecting adult brains against neurodegenerative diseases.
- Limited information exists regarding the role and expression of Prdx in the developing neonatal brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental expression patterns of Prdx 1, 2, and 6 in the perinatal rat brain.
- To examine the impact of dexamethasone on the expression of these Prdx during development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized immunohistochemistry to analyze the spatial and temporal expression of Prdx 1, 2, and 6.
- Administered dexamethasone to perinatal rats to assess its effect on Prdx expression.
Main Results:
- Prdx 1 expression increased during late gestation, peaked at postnatal day 1, and then declined.
- Prdx 2 expression remained relatively constant throughout the perinatal period.
- Prdx 6 expression showed a continuous increase with development, and its levels were elevated following dexamethasone treatment.
- All studied Prdx exhibited strong expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, with Prdx 1 also prominent in the corpus callosum.
Conclusions:
- Peroxiredoxins 1, 2, and 6 are abundantly present in the perinatal rat brain and display distinct developmental expression profiles.
- Dexamethasone significantly influences the expression of Prdx 6 in the developing brain, suggesting a role in mediating steroid hormone effects.
Abstract:
Peroxiredoxins (Prdx), a family of antioxidant proteins, have important defensive roles in the degenerative brain diseases and neuronal cell death in adult subjects. However, little is known in the neonatal brain. Here, we studied the developmental expression of Prdxs and their response to dexamethasone in the perinatal rat brain. Prdx 1 expression increased during late gestations and peaked at postnatal-day 1, when its expression gradually decreased. Prdx 2 expression remained largely unchanged. Prdx 6 expression continually increased as growing. Using immunohistochemistry, each Prdx showed a strong expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Prdx 1 was strongly expressed in the corpus callosum. The dexamethasone injection increased the expression of Prdx 6. In conclusion, we reveal for the first time that Prdx 1, 2 and 6 are found in abundance in the perinatal rat brain and are differentially expressed during development. The expression of Prdx 6 was affected by dexamethasone treatment.
