Objective       To determine the protective effect of perfluorooctyl-bromide (PFOB) nanoparticles on the early brain injury (EBI) in rats after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its relationship with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α).       Methods       A total of 100 healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups

that is

sham-operation

SAH

SAH+vehicle

SAH+5 mg/kg PFOB and SAH+10 mg/kg PFOB

with 20 animals in each group. Rat SAH model was established by endovascular perforation

and PFOB treatment (injected through the caudal vein) was initiated in 1 h after SAH. After their neurobehavioral function was evaluated in 24 h after surgery

all rats were subsequently sacrificed to detect brain water content and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. TUNEL staining was used to detect neural apoptosis

immunohistochemical assay and Western blotting to detect HIF-1α expression.       Results       PFOB treatment significantly alleviated EBI

including neurological dysfunction

brain edema

blood-brain barrier disruption and neural cell apoptosis

with the high-dose group more obvious (P0.05). In addition

it also suppressed the expression of HIF-1α in the rat hippocampus. The effects of 10 g/kg PFOB were more obvious than those of 5 g/kg PFOB (P0.05).       Conclusion       PFOB alleviates EBI after SAH

potentially through down-regulation of HIF-1α.