Abstract: To study the expressions of apoptosis related proteins Fas, Fas-L, NFκB, c-fos and c-Jun in hippocampal neurons of ovariectomized rats, and the effect of APP17-mer peptide on these expressions, female Wistar rats were bilaterally ovariectomized(ovx), and were treated with APP17-mer peptide. Then they were studied by immunohistochemistry for Fas, Fas-L, c-fos, c-Jun and NFκB, and were studied by TUNEL to observe the DNA fragments of neurons. The number of neurons stained positively by Fas, Fas-L, c-fos, c-Jun antibodies in the brains of ovariectomized rats increased, and the number of neurons stained positively for NFκB was reduced. However, after being treated by the APP17-mer peptide, the expression of these apoptosis related proteins were normalized. There were no apoptotic neurons stained by TUNEL in the hippocampus. The result indicates that expression changes of apoptotic related protein in OVX rats. APP17-mer peptide treatment can normalize the expression of these proteins mentioned above. According to the research, the hippocampal neurons appear in a condition of pro apoptosis, but APP17-mer peptide is able to reverse the pro apoptosis situation of neurons.

Key words: ovariectomy, apoptosis, APP17P