大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的:探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组,用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记(TUNEL)法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果:对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关(P0.01)。结论:大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的：探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组。用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记（TUNEL）法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果：对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关（P〈0．01）。结论：大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

姜黄素对糖尿病大鼠大脑海马神经元的作用研究

目的观察姜黄素(Curcumin,Cur)对STZ诱导的2型糖尿病大鼠大脑海马神经元的影响。方法雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组:正常对照组(Con组),高糖高脂饮食结合链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导的2型糖尿病模型组(DM组)和给予姜黄素处理的糖尿病组(DM+Cur组)。免疫印迹法(WB法)检测大鼠大脑海马凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2和Bax的蛋白含量;免疫组织化学法(IHC法)检测凋亡执行者caspase-3在大鼠大脑海马各区中的表达情况。结果大鼠给予高糖高脂饮食一个月后,腹腔注射STZ可诱导大鼠血糖升高,继续给予高糖高脂饮食,大鼠出现类似于2型糖尿病的症状,通过WB检测,DM组大鼠海马的Bcl-2/Bax比值较Con组明显下降(P0.05),而给予姜黄素处理16周后的DM+Cur组大鼠可明显增强抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达而减弱促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,两者比值增大(P0.05);另外,通过IHC法检测发现,DM组大鼠海马各区的caspase-3阳性表达明显增多,而DM+Cur组可减弱caspase-3的阳性表达。结论高糖高脂饮食结合STZ腹腔注射可诱导出2型糖尿病大鼠模型,姜黄素能通过调控DM大鼠海马凋亡相关蛋白的表达而发挥保护作用。     

灵芝孢子粉对戊四氮活化海马神经细胞caspase-9 表达的研究

目的:本实验研究灵芝孢子粉对戊四氮活化大鼠海马神经细胞caspase-9表达变化的影响,进一步探索灵芝孢子粉对癫痫大鼠脑保护的作用机制和癫痫与海马神经细胞凋亡调控基因之间的关系。方法:通过制备癫痫模型,RT-PCR和Western blotting检测正常对照组、癫痫模型组和灵芝孢子粉用药组caspase-9的表达。结果:癫痫模型组和灵芝孢子粉用药组caspase-9的表达较正常对照组均升高;其中癫痫模型组caspase-9的表达水平与对照组比较明显升高,灵芝孢子粉用药组caspase-9的表达水平与癫痫模型组比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义。结论:本研究结果证实,Caspase-9介导了癫痫大鼠神经细胞凋亡机制,说明灵芝孢子粉有效成份能充分作用于脑组织,可以调控caspase-9的表达,发挥抗凋亡的神经保护作用。     

高压氧对脑缺血再灌注海马CA_1区神经元凋亡作用的研究

目的和方法 :应用TUNEL检测技术 ,对沙土鼠前脑缺血 2 0min后再灌注 3d模型 ,用HBO治疗连续 3d。观察HBO作用下海马CA1区神经元凋亡变化 ,研讨HBO对脑缺血再灌注损伤的疗效及其机理 ,为临床应用HBO治疗疾病提供理论依据。结果 :沙土鼠脑缺血再灌注 3d后海马CA1区大量神经元凋亡 ,HBO治疗组凋亡细胞数明显减少 (P <0 .0 1) ,并以 0 .2 5MPaHBO治疗组为佳。结论 :HBO治疗对海马神经元损伤有保护作用 ,减少神经元凋亡 ,为高压氧治疗缺血性损伤的疗效机理之一     

高压氧对急性CO 中毒大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞的影响

目的:探讨高压氧对急性CO中毒大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞的影响,分析HBO治疗急性CO中毒脑损伤的机制。方法:建立急性CO中毒大鼠模型,给予高压氧(HBO)治疗后,H-E染色观察大鼠脑组织病理学变化,免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠脑内神经干细胞(nestin)和星形胶质细胞(GFAP)的表达。结果:H-E染色标本上,对照组脑内神经元形态正常,染毒组脑皮质出现大量变性坏死细胞,海马锥体细胞层稀疏,HBO组坏死细胞明显减少。免疫组化结果显示对照组nestin和GFAP表达数量形态均正常,染毒组nestin表达增加,但无统计学意义,GFAP形态数量发生改变,HBO组nestin表达明显增加,且在大脑皮层可见部分nestin阳性细胞和nestin-GFAP双阳性细胞;GFAP表达趋于正常。结论:急性CO中毒作为脑损伤因素可轻度激活大鼠脑内源性神经干细胞,并使星形胶质细胞增生变形、神经元变性坏死,HBO治疗可减轻星形胶质细胞损伤,明显激活内源性神经干细胞,并促使其增殖、迁移和分化。提示HBO可能通过激活神经干细胞起治疗作用。     

大鼠脑缺血再灌注后海马神经细胞NOS表达与细胞凋亡及复方丹参的保护作用

目的探讨大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后海马神经细胞一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的表达与神经细胞凋亡的关系及中药复方丹参的保护作用。方法采用大脑中动脉内栓线阻断法(MCAO)造成局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型。用原位细胞凋亡检测方法观察海马神经细胞凋亡;用免疫组织化学方法检测大鼠海马神经细胞(nNOS、iNOS)的表达并做图像分析。结果与假手术对照组比较,脑缺血再灌注2h后缺血侧海马CA1、CA3区神经细胞nNOS、iNOS表达升高,并出现神经细胞凋亡,随着再灌注时间的延长,神经细胞iNOS的表达明显增强,凋亡神经细胞数逐渐增多,至24h达高峰,但神经细胞nNOS的表达并未见明显增强。复方丹参保护组神经细胞nNOS、iNOS的表达和凋亡神经细胞数明显低于缺血再灌组(P<0.01)。结论脑缺血再灌注后缺血侧海马CA1、CA3区神经细胞nNOS的表达增强,iNOS的表达显著升高,使NO的形成增加,这可能是介导脑缺血再灌注后神经细胞凋亡的机制之一。复方丹参具有下调神经细胞nNOS、iNOS的表达,减少NO的生成,抑制细胞凋亡,减轻缺血再灌注对大鼠海马损伤的作用。     

褪黑素抑制新生大鼠脑缺血缺氧损伤后海马内Bcl-2/Bax的下调和caspase-3的活化

目的探讨褪黑素对新生大鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤(hypoxic-ischemic brain damage,HIBD)后脑内Bcl-2、Bax和caspase-3表达的影响。方法用电凝结扎第7天的新生SD大鼠右颈总动脉制备新生大鼠脑缺血缺氧损伤模型,用称重法测定脑水肿程度;hematoxylin-eosin(HE)和triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)染色观察脑组织的梗死范围;Fluoro-Jade B(FJB)染色观察细胞的死亡情况;免疫荧光染色、Westernblot检测caspase-3、Bcl-2和Bax在各组的表达。结果 HIBD大鼠右侧大脑半球出现明显的梗死灶,且含水量较假手术组明显增加;褪黑素可使之减轻。HE和FJB染色显示,褪黑素可减轻大鼠缺血缺氧损伤引起的海马神经元的形态改变,降低FJB阳性细胞的数量。免疫荧光染色和Western Blot检测显示,HIBD大鼠右侧海马caspase-3、Bcl-2和Bax水平升高,Bcl-2/Bax降低;褪黑素干预后caspase-3和Bax水平达降低,Bcl-2水平升高,Bcl-2/Bax升高。结论褪黑素可通过抑制新生大鼠脑缺血缺氧损伤后海马内Bcl-2/Bax的下调和caspase-3的活化,抑制细胞凋亡,对新生鼠脑缺血缺氧损伤产生保护作用。     

预缺血通过NMDA受体抑制海马CA1区Bcl-2磷酸化的研究

目的:研究预缺血以及联合给予预缺血和NMDA(N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸)受体抑制剂MK801后对大鼠海马CA1区Bcl-2的磷酸化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡的影响。方法:采用SD大鼠四动脉结扎全脑缺血及预缺血模型,给药组大鼠在预缺血前1h给予腹腔注射MK801 3mg/kg。用免疫印迹法分析不同处理下大鼠海马CA1区Bcl-2的蛋白表达及其磷酸化水平,焦油紫染色法分析海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡情况。结果:脑缺血再灌注组相对于Sham组Bcl-2的磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著增高,预缺血组相对于缺血再灌注组Bcl-2的磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著降低;而预缺血前给予MK801组相对于预缺血组Bcl-2磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著增高;而Bcl-2的蛋白表达水平在以上不同处理条件下均无明显变化。结论:NMDA受体介导了预缺血抑制脑缺血再灌注诱导增加Bcl-2磷酸化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡。     

慢性低O2高CO2对大鼠海马神经细胞TLR4和NFκB的影响

目的：探讨慢性低O2高CO2对大鼠海马神经细胞TLR4和NFκB的影响及作用。方法：采用慢性低O2高CO2肺动脉高压大鼠模型,30只大鼠随机分为正常对照组（NC）、低O2高CO2 2周组（2HH组）和低O2高CO2 4周组（4HH组）,免疫组织化学法检测海马CA1／3区细胞TLR4和NFκB的表达,TUNEL法检测海马细胞凋亡。结果：模型组大鼠海马CA1／3区TLR4蛋白的表达随着时间延长而显著,2HH组（CA1：0．1275±0．0242,CA3：0．1156±0．0376）,4HH组（CA1：0．1522±0．0187,CA3：0．1427±0．0453）,与NC组比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。NC组大鼠海马CA1／3区可见NFκB／p65少量表达于胞浆,而模型组可见NFκB／p65在细胞核内不同程度表达,2HH组（CA1：0．1326±0．0324,CA3：0．1301±0．0112）,4HH组（CA1：0．1612±0．0428,CA3：0．1578±0．0365）,与NC组比较分别有显著性差异（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）。模型组大鼠海马CA1／3区细胞凋亡明显增多,与NC组比较分别有显著性差异（P〈0．01）,以4HH组为著。结论：TLR4和NFκB激活可能在慢性低O2高CO2大鼠海马神经细胞凋亡中有重要作用。     

高压氧预处理对急性减压所致的大鼠肺组织细胞凋亡及Bcl-2/Bax表达的影响

目的:探讨高压氧预处理对减压病大鼠肺组织细胞凋亡的影响相关蛋白表达的影响。方法:雄性SD大鼠24只,随机分为3组,正常对照组(NC group)、HBO预处理组(HBOP group)、减压组(DCS group),每组8只。连续进行HBO预处理5天后进行减压病模型制备,取左侧肺组织进行湿干重比值测定,右侧肺组织用于病理实验;HE染色观察肺组织病理学改变,免疫组织化学法标记Bcl-2、Bax、Caspase-3与MMP-9阳性细胞表达,并对bcl-2/bax值进行分析。结果:减压组肺组织Bax、Caspase-3与MMP-9阳性细胞数明显增加(P0.05),而Bcl-2阳性细胞表达减少(P0.05);高压氧预处理组与减压组相比,Bax、Caspase-3与MMP-9阳性细胞数明显减少(P0.05),而Bcl-2阳性细胞表达增加(P0.05);大鼠肺组织减压组与高压氧预处理组Bcl-2/Bax值较对照组明显降低(P0.05);与减压组相比,高压氧预处理组明显升高(P0.05)。结论:HBO预处理可以减轻减压对肺组织的病理损伤,减轻肺泡和支气管上皮细胞的变性坏死,抑制细胞凋亡,从而起到对减压病的保护作用。     

Hyperbaric oxygen induces apoptosis via a mitochondrial mechanism

During therapeutic hyperbaric oxygenation lymphocytes are exposed to high partial pressures of oxygen. This study aimed to analyze the mechanism of apoptosis induction by hyperbaric oxygen. For intervals of 0.5–4 h Jurkat-T-cells were exposed to ambient air or oxygen atmospheres at 1–3 absolute atmospheres. Apoptosis was analyzed by phosphatidylserine externalization, caspase-3 activation and DNA-fragmentation using flow cytometry. Apoptosis was already induced after 30 min of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO, P < 0.05). The death receptor Fas was downregulated. Inhibition of caspase-9 but not caspase-8 blocked apoptosis induction by HBO. Hyperbaric oxygen caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-9 induction. The mitochondrial pro-survival protein Bcl-2 was upregulated, and antagonizing Bcl-2 function potentiated apoptosis induction by HBO. In conclusion, a single exposure to hyperbaric oxygenation induces lymphocyte apoptosis by a mitochondrial and not a Fas-related mechanism. Regulation of Fas and Bcl-2 may be regarded as protective measures of the cell in response to hyperbaric oxygen.     

Kinetics of Apoptosis and Expression of Apoptosis-Related Proteins in Rat CA3 Hippocampus Cells After Experimental Diffuse Brain Injury

The present study examined kinetics of apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 in the CA3 hippocampus cells after diffuse brain injury (DBI) induced experimentally in rats. Percentage of apoptotic cells and expressions of above proteins were examined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Substantial neuronal apoptosis was documented in the CA3 hippocampus cells after DBI (22.26 ± 2.97 % at 72 h after DBI vs. 2.92 ± 0.88 % in sham-operated animals). Expression of Bc1-2 decreased, while expression of Bax and caspase-3 increased after DBI, with caspase-3 expression peaking after that of Bax (72 vs. 48 h, respectively). Further, the Bc1-2/Bax expression ratio decreased prior to increase of caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, cell apoptosis and altered expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 are present in the CA3 region of hippocampus after experimental DBI. Changes in the Bc1-2/Bax expression ratio may facilitate activation of caspase-3 and aggravate neuronal apoptosis after brain injury.     

高压氧对局灶性脑缺血后细胞凋亡的影响及其机制

目的：观察不同时间点高压氧（HBO）治疗对短暂性脑缺血的作用,并探讨其对细胞凋亡的影响。方法：在客观监测局部脑血流的条件下,大鼠经历短暂脑缺血后3h,6h,12h应用HBO治疗,24h后行神经功能评分和梗死体积测定,免疫组化染色各组Bcl-2、Bax、活性Caspase-3、活性Caspase-9以及TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡。结果：缺血后3h HBO治疗减少70％梗死体积,缺血后6hHBO治疗则减少梗死体积约44％,早期应用HBO治疗增加半暗带区细胞内Bcl-2的表达,减少活性Caspase-9和活性Caspase-3以及TUNEL阳性细胞数;缺血后12h应用HBO治疗却恶化神经功能,扩大梗死范围,而对上述凋亡各指标无影响。结论：HBO治疗短暂性局灶脑缺血具有时间窗,应争取在缺血后6h内应用HB0治疗,其早期治疗的神经保护作用与抑制细胞凋亡有关。     

自噬在高压氧预处理预防脊髓缺血再灌注损伤中 的作用机制研究*

目的:研究自噬在高压氧预处理预防脊髓缺血再灌注损伤中的机制。方法:新生大鼠脊髓神经元原代培养,分为对照组(氧糖剥夺)和高压氧(HBO)预处理组。通过应用免疫组织化学、Western blot分析两组LC3-Ⅱ与凋亡相关分子Beclin-1,Bcl-2,Casp-ase-3的表达变化。结果:发现重复高压氧预处理对氧糖剥夺诱导原代培养的脊髓神经元损伤具有明显的保护作用。免疫组化和Western blot显示与对照组相比高压氧预处理显著增加脊髓神经元细胞Bcl-2的表达,降低Beclin-1,Caspase-3以及自噬的特异性标记蛋白LC3-Ⅱ的表达。氧糖剥夺后对照组与高压氧组相比,LDH释放量明显增多(P<0.05)。结论:HBO预处理通过调节自噬减轻缺血再灌注损伤,为HBO预处理神经保护提供一条新的作用机制。     

Immunohistochemical changes in vulnerable rat brain regions after reversible global brain ischaemia

Human global ischaemia was simulated in adult rats by inducing 20 min brain ischaemia and 60 min post-ischaemic recirculation. Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9, TIMP-3, Bax and Bcl-2, and DNA fragmentation (with the TUNEL reaction) were investigated. The morphological data showed different neuronal responses in the hippocampus compared with the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. MMP-9 immunoreactivity was different in the hippocampus, particularly in dentate gyrus and the CA1 region, compared with these cortices. Negative TIMP-3 staining in ischaemic hippocampal neurons may indicate a loss of its inhibitory activity on MMP-9 that could enhance cell death. Bcl-2 down regulation, Bax positivity and TUNEL+ type II cells in the dentate gyrus granular layer could be responsible for induction of apoptotic death in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells via loss of fibre input. Results suggest differential behaviours of neural cells after 60 min reperfusion.     

BAX contributes to apoptotic-like death following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia: evidence for distinct apoptosis pathways.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) injury to the neonatal brain has been shown to result in rapid cell death with features of acute excitotoxicity/necrosis as well as prominent delayed cell death with features of apoptosis such as marked caspase-3 activation. BAX, a pro-apoptotic molecule, has been shown to be required for apoptotic neuronal cell death during normal development but the contribution of endogenous BAX in cell death pathways following H-I injury to the developing or adult brain has not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bax +/+, +/-, and -/- mice at post-natal day 7 were subjected to unilateral carotid ligation followed by exposure to 45 minutes of 8% oxygen. At different timepoints following H-I, brain tissue was studied by conventional histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and enzymatic assay to determine the extent and type of cell injury as well as the amount of caspase activation. RESULTS: We found that bax -/- mice had significantly less (38%) hippocampal tissue loss than mice expressing bax. Some of the remaining cell death in bax -/- mice, however, still had features of apoptosis including evidence of nuclear shrinkage and caspase-3 activation. Though bax -/- mice had significantly decreased caspase-3 activation as compared to bax expressing mice following H-I, the density of cells with activated caspase-8 in the CA3 region of the hippocampus did not differ between bax +/- and bax -/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that endogenous BAX plays a role in regulating cell death in the central nervous system (CNS) following neonatal H-I, a model of cerebral palsy. In addition, while BAX appears to modulate the caspase-3 activation following neonatal H-I, caspase-8 which is linked to death receptor activation, may contribute to apoptotic-like neuronal death in a BAX-independent manner.     

Multiple Factors from Bradykinin-Challenged Astrocytes Contribute to the Neuronal Apoptosis: Involvement of Astroglial ROS, MMP-9, and HO-1/CO System

Bradykinin (BK) has been shown to induce the expression of several inflammatory mediators, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in brain astrocytes. These mediators may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and death in various neurological disorders. However, the effects of multiple inflammatory mediators released from BK-challenged astrocytes on neuronal cells remain unclear. Here, we found that multiple factors were released from brain astrocytes (RBA-1) exposed to BK in the conditioned culture media (BK-CM), including ROS, MMP-9, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO), leading to neuronal cell (SK-N-SH) death. Exposure of SK-N-SH cells to BK-CM or H₂O₂ reduced cell viability and induced cell apoptosis which were attenuated by N-acetyl cysteine, indicating a role of ROS in these responses. The effect of BK-CM on cell viability and cell apoptosis was also reversed by immunoprecipitation of BK-CM with anti-MMP-9 antibody (MMP-9-IP-CM) or MMP2/9 inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of MMP-9 in BK-CM-mediated responses. Astroglial HO-1/CO in BK-CM induced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability which was reversed by hemoglobin. Consistently, the involvement of CO in these cellular responses was revealed by incubation with a CO donor CO-RM2 which was reversed by hemoglobin. The role of HO-1 in BK-CM-induced responses was confirmed by overexpression of HO-1 in SK-N-SH infected with Adv-HO-1. BK-CM-induced cell apoptosis was due to the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. Together, we demonstrate that BK-induced several neurotoxic factors, including ROS, MMP-9, and CO released from astrocytes, may induce neuronal death through a caspase-3-dependent apoptotic pathway.     

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning protects skin from UV-A damage

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used for a number of applications, including the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and CO poisoning. However, we and others have shown that HBOT can mobilize cellular antioxidant defenses, suggesting that it may also be useful under circumstances in which tissue protection from oxidative damage is desired. To test the protective properties of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on a tissue level, we evaluated the ability of a preconditioning treatment regimen to protect cutaneous tissue from UV-A-induced oxidative damage. Three groups of hairless SKH1-E mice were exposed to UV-A 3 days per week for 22 weeks, with two of these groups receiving an HBO pretreatment either two or four times per week. UV-A exposure increased apoptosis and proliferation of the skin tissue, indicating elevated levels of epithelial damage and repair. Pretreatment with HBO significantly reduced UV-A-induced apoptosis and proliferation. A morphometric analysis of microscopic tissue folds also showed a significant increase in skin creasing following UV-A exposure, which was prevented by HBO pretreatment. Likewise, skin elasticity was found to be greatest in the group treated with HBO four times per week. The effects of HBO were also apparent systemically as reductions in caspase-3 activity and expression were observed in the liver. Our findings support a protective function of HBO pretreatment from a direct oxidative challenge of UV-A to skin tissue. Similar protection of other tissues may likewise be achievable.