Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects and the possible mechanism of Ganglioside-1 (GM1) and rehabilitation on neurologic behaviors of rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). Methods 48 immature rats developed as model of HIBD were divided into 5 groups: control group, GM1 group, rehabilitation training group (R group), GM1+R group, and sham group. They were evaluated with Climb, Slope and Water Maze Tests. The expressions of activated caspase-3 in neurons were detected with immunohistochemistry. Results The achievement of Climb and Slope Test were significantly different among groups (P<0.001), which ranked as the sham group> GM1+R group> R group> GM1 group> control group (P<0.05). The latency of Water Maze Test was significantly different among groups (P<0.01),which was longer in the control and GM1 groups than in the sham group (P<0.05). The activated caspase-3 expressed in hippocampus and frontal cortex was less in the GM1 and R groups than in the sham group (P<0.05), more in the GM1 group, R group and GM1+R group than in the control group in hippocampus (P<0.05), more in the R group and GM1+R group than in the control group in frontal cortex (P<0.05).The expression of activated caspase-3 in both hippocampus and frontal cortex correlated with the achievement of Climb and Slope Test (P<0.05), but not with the latency of Water Maze Test (P>0.05). Conclusion Rehabilitation training and GM1 are effective on recovery of neural function in rats with HIBD with synergia, which may associated with the activated caspase-3 in terminal synapse.

Key words: hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, ganglioside-1, rehabilitation, caspase-3, rats