Objective:To observe the effects of the NF-κB subunit p50(NF-κB p50)specific inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC)on the expression of NF-κB p50

inflammatory factor TNF-α and related rehabilitation protein Reelin

synaptophysin and Lingo-1 and to further observe the changes of neurological function scores and the morphology of hippocampal neurons in rats.Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham-operated group(S group)

ischemic control group(I group)and PDTC group(P group). Middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was used to create focal cerebral ischemic models.Rats in P group underwent PDTC(100 mg/kg

intraperitoneal injection)after MCAO. Rats were sacrificed on day 3 in S group and on day 1

3 or 7 in I group and P group post-MCAO. Longa scores was used to evaluate the neurological function of rats in three groups.Western blot was used to detect the expression of NF-κB p50

TNF-α

synaptophysin and Reelin. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons of rats in three groups and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the number of and Lingo-1-positive cells in three groups. Results:The Longa scores of P group and I group were lower than those of S group;the Longa scores of P group were lower than those of I group on day 1 and 3 post-MCAO without statistical differences(P >0.05)

but the Longa scores of P group were lower than those of I group on day 7 post-MCAO(P<0.05). The hippocampal neurons in I group was abnormal

while the morphology of the hippocampal neurons in P group was generally normal. The expression of NF-κB p50 in ischemic hippocampus was higher in I group and P group than in S group(P<0.05)

but it was lower in P group than in I group. There was no statistical difference on day 7 post-MCAO in three groups. The expression of TNF-α in I group and P group was higher than that in S group on day1

3 and 7 post-MCAO(P<0.05)

but it was lower in P group than that in I group(P<0.05). The expression of synaptophysin and Reelin in P group was remarkably upregulated than that in I group on day 1 and 3 post-MCAO(P<0.05)

but without statistical differences on day 7 post-MCAO(P >0.05). The expression of Lingo-1-positive cells was low in S group

and it was lower in P group than that in I group on day 7. Conclusion:PDTC can improve neurological function

maintain the relatively normal morphology of the hippocampal neurons

which is possibly relative to inhibiting the expression of NF-κB p50

reduc ing the production of inflammatory factor TNF-α and regulating the expression of Reelin

synaptophysin and Lingo-1.