Objective The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of
batroxobin on morphol ogical features and on the amount
of GFAP positive cells and survival pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1 region after
transient focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats (weight 250 30 0 g) by transient occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCAO) using an intraluminal thread model. All animals were randomly devided into batroxobin tre ated group (Bat),normal saline control group (N.S) and sham operated group (Sha m)and subjected toischemia for 2 h, followed by 3h,6h,12h,48h,72 h,7d of reperfusion.The slices were stained with H E and with NeuN&GFAP immunoh istological double staining. Consults Batroxobin increased significa ntly the numbers of GFAP positive cells in CA1 region in earlier periods of repe rfusion (3 24h).The number of survival pyramidal neurons wasmuch more t han that in N.S group.ConclusionThe increase of reactive a strocytes in earlier periodsimplies that astrocytes positively respond t o the neuronal injuries, which might play a role in promoting neuronal survival. This study indicates that batroxobin provide neuroprotection by preventing delay ed neuron death (DND)after transient focal cerebral ischemia