AIMTo explore the alteration of serum protein fingerprinting of rats subjected brain injury.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups, ie, normal control group, sham operation group, injury 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h groups. The change of protein pattern in serum was monitored with weak cationic exchanger chip and surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSThe reduction of 5648 Da protein expression was detected at 4 h, 8 h or 12 h after injury (P < 0.01, compared with control and sham operation) and recovery at 24 h or 48 h. The increase of 9681 Da protein expression was detected at 4 h, 8 h or 12 h after injury (P < 0.05, compared with control and sham operation) and recovery at 24 h or 48 h.

CONCLUSIONThe alteration of protein expression in serum could be induced after brain injury.