Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on hippocampus neuron and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in rats. Methods 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, CIH 1 week group, CIH 3 weeks group and CIH 5 weeks group with 10 rats in each group. The CIH groups were exposed to intermittent hypoxia in designed cabin 8 hevery day for 1 week, 3 weeks and 5 weeks. The pathological changes of hippocampal neurons were observed by HE staining. The GAP-43 expression of hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results There was degeneration and necrosis of hippocampal neurons in the CIH rats, and it became worse gradually along with the hypoxia. Compared with the control group, the GAP-43 expression in hippocampus increased in CIH rats. The peak of GAP-43 expression appeared in the 1st week (P=0.038) and then it decreased in the 3rd week (P=0.382) and it was closed to the normal level in the 5th week (P=0.860). Conclusion Degeneration and necrosis of hippocampal neurons exacerbated gradually along with the hypoxia, while GAP-43 expression changed inconsistently.

Key words: chronic intermittent hypoxia, growth associated protein, hippocampus, rats