Abstract: Objective To investigate the apoptosis of neuron surrounding the hematoma in intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)rats.Methods 64 male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups,trial group(ICH,n=56)and control group(sham operated,n=8).The brains of the rats were removed 6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h,7 d,14 d after ICH.Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-bioti in situ nick end-labeling(TUNEL)was used to detect deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)fragmentation.The activation of caspase-3 was measured with immunohistochemistery.The electron microscope were used to observe histological changes surrounding the hematoma.Results Under transmission electronic microscope,shrunken neuron and glial cell with pre-apoptotic signs of intensely stained cytoplasm and abnormally dense nucleus,swollen blood vessel were found.TUNEL-positive cells appeared in the periphery of the hematoma and increased from 6 h to 14 d after ICH.Little TUNEL-positive cells could be found in the control group.The change of the caspase-3-positive cells was similar to TUNEL,but the peak of caspase-3-positive cells was more early than that of TUNEL.Conclusion The apoptosis of neuron occurred surrounding the hematoma in ICH rats and it may related to caspase-3.

Key words: intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH), apoptosis, caspase-3, rats