Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of remote ischemic post conditioning on the expression of amyloid precursor protein(APP) in rats following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Methods The focal ischemia and reperfusion rat model was established with suture method. The remote ischemic post-conditioning was performed with bilateral occluding of bilateral femoral arteries for 10 min and reperfusion for 10 min, repeated for 3 times. The rats were divided into 7 groups: sham group(n=4, named S), control group(n=8, rats were only subjected to focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, 4 rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after ischemia and another 4 at 24 hours, named C4, C24), and the experiment groups(n=8, the rats underwent focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and remote ischemia post conditioning immediately after cerebral ischemia: 4 rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after ischemia and the other 4 at 24 hours, named I4, I24; n=8, rats underwent focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and remote ischemia post conditioning immediately after reperfusion; 4 of the rats were sacrificed at 4 hours after ischemia and the other 4 at 24 hours, named R4, R24). Beta-APP was determined quantitatively by Western blotting. The immunofluorescence was used for the localization of β-APP. Results There were no significant differences between C4, C24 and S groups. But the level of β-APP in the C24 group was increased compared to the S group. Compared to the C24 group, the level of β-APP was significantly decreased in the I24 group(P<0.05). Conclusion Remote ischemic post-conditioning might decrease the level of β-APP induced by cerebral ischemia, resulting in attenuation of cerebral ischemic damage.

Key words: cerebral ischemia, remote ischemia post-conditioning, β-amyloid precursor protein