Comparison of heat shock cognate protein-72 mRNA expression in young and adult gerbil brains following transient global ischemia

Distributions of heat shock cognate-72 protein (HSC72) mRNA were investigated by in situ hybridization in the hippocampus of young and adult male Mongolian gerbils following 15 min of global cerebral ischemia. The vulnerable CA1 region showed maximal expression of mRNA after 48 h of reperfusion in both young and adult animals. Minimal changes in mRNA expression were observed in adult animals prior to 48 h of reperfusion with regard to control values. In contrast, young animals showed a gradual increase in mRNA hybridization following the same amount of reperfusion. Neuronal staining in the hippocampus of both experimental groups revealed few pathological changes prior to 48 h of reperfusion. At 48 h, cellular injury was apparent in the adult CA1 region, where as few pathological changes occurred in the same area of young animals. These results suggest a possible age-dependent correlation between HSC72 mRNA induction and neuronal survivability in young and adult gerbils.