Objective      To study the neuroprotective effect of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning(HBOP)

and the effect of HBOP on the expression of P2X7 receptor in mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).       Methods      Total 72 C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated group

HBOP+sham-operated group

MCAO group and HBOP+MCAO group. The MCAO model was establ

ished by suture occluded method. The neurological deficits and infarct volumes were detected at 24 h after MCAO in mice. The apoptotic cells were detected by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). The expression of P2X7 receptor mRNA was determined by RT-QPCR.       Results      Compared with MCAO group

the scores of neurological deficits were reduced obviously in HBOP+MCAO group(

P

0.05); compared with the MCAO group

the rate of infarct volumes decreased significantly in HBOP+MCAO group(

P

0.05); compared with MCAO group

the apoptotic cells were significantly diluted in HBOP+MCAO group(

P

0.05); compared with MCAO group

the expression of P2X7 receptor mRNA was reduced in HBOP+MCAO group(

P

0.01).       Conclusion      The results suggest that the HBOP have a absolutely neuroprotective effect

it can attenuate the injury of the experimental MCAO model

reduce the infarct volume and dilute the apoptosis

and the neuroprotective effect maybe concerned with the delayed of P2X7 receptor’s expression after MCAO.