Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of ultrashort wave diathermy on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) andBcl-2 in hippocampus, striatum and motor cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Methods The model of focal ischemia/reperfusionin Sprague-Dawley rats was induced with intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with nylon monofilament suture. Therats were divided into 3 groups: sham group (n=6), model group (n=6) and ultrashort wave diathermy group (n=6). Brain tissue slices wereimmunohistochemically stained (SABC) to observe the expression of TNF-α and Bcl-2. Results The expression of TNF-α and Bcl-2 in lefthippocampus, striatum and motor cortex was higher in the model group than in the sham group (P<0.01). The expression of TNF-α was lowerbut Bcl-2 was higher in the ultrashort wave diathermy group than in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion Ultrashort wave diathermycan affect the expression of TNF-α and Bcl-2, which may associate to the neuroprotection from focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Key words: cerebral ischemia, ischemia/reperfusion, ultrashort wave diathermy, tumor necrosis factor, Bcl-2