The Expression Changes of the Mcl-1 Gene Following Cholestasis and Treatment by Neuroaid in Striatum of Male Rats

Background: Cholestasis is a consequence of disordered bile secretion which may change the level of apoptosis through affecting the expression of responsible genes. The present study was planned to investigate the effects of Cholestasis and Neuroaid (a drug which protects and repairs neurons) on the expression of Mcl-1 gene (anti apoptotic gene) in the male rat’s brain (the striatum region).

Methods: A total number of 16 rats were divided into four groups as follows: 1- BDL group; the rats which were just operated for bile duct ligation. 2- BDL-Neuroaid group; the rats which received both operation and Neuroaid. 3- Sham-Neuroaid group; the rats which were not operated, but received the operation stress and Neuroaid. 4- Control group; the rats which were not treated at all. Following the treatments, the rats were killed and their striatums were removed from their brains. Afterwards, RNA was extracted from the striatum cells, cDNA was synthesized, and the Real time PCR was performed to measure the gene expression.

Results: The Mcl-1 expression in the BDL group was more than in the control group. It was also four times as much as the Mcl-1 expression in the BDL-Neuroaid group. The Mcl-1 expression in the BDL-Neuroaid and Sham-Neuroaid groups was slightly more than in the control group; however, the difference was not statistically significant ‏.

Conclusion: Cholestasis causes a large increase in the expression of Mcl-1 gene in the stratiums of rats’ brain. Neuroaid can invert this process and decrease the Mcl-1 expression whilst it has no effects on the Mcl-1 expression in normal rats.