Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of traumatic brain injury on the expressions of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) in brain tissue of rats.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal control, sham surgery and injury groups. The rats of injury groups were subjected to Marmarou's closed traumatic brain injury and then were subdivided into 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 5 d subgroups according to the time elapsed after injury. The expressions of GDNF were studied with immunohistochemistry.ResultsIn control group, mild expressions of GDNF were observed in cortex, hippocampus and brain stem of rats. The number of GDNF positive neurons reached the peak level at 2 h in cortex after injury, and lasted for 5 d. In hippocampus and brain stem, the number of that also reached the peak level at 2 h, and lasted for 72 h.ConclusionThe expressions of GDNF increased significantly at the early time in cortex, hippocampus and brain stem of rats after injury. The significant expression of GDNF lasted longer in cortex.

Key words: traumatic brain injury, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, rat, brain tissue