Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of curcumin on apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in hippocampus tissue area in cortex with hypoxic ischemic brain damage. Methods A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups as the following: sham group(SH)，hypoxic ischemic brain damage group(HIBD)，curcumin group(CU) and solvent control group(SC). Brain specimens drawn from the left cerebral cortex were tested for the enzyme activity of NOS. The expression of caspase-3 protein in hippocampus tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry (IHC), ultrastructural changes of cortex tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results The The enzyme activity of NOS in CU group was clearly lower than those in HI group at the same reperfused time (P＜0.01). The expression of caspase-3 was decreased in cortex tissue in CU group than that in IR group, the number of apoptosis neurons in hippocampus tissue were much less in CU group than that in HI group.Conclusion Neuron apoptosis participates in hypoxic ischemic brain damage. The protective effects of curcumin include suppressing the expression of caspase-3 and blocking apoptosis in hypoxic ischemic brain damage.

Key words: Curcumin, Hypoxia Ischemia Brain Damage, Apoptosis, Caspase-3, NOS