OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphology alterations and proteomics changes in primary astrocytes following fluid percussion injury.

METHODSPrimary cultures of astrocytes were prepared from cerebral hemispheres of 1-3 d-old SD rats, then, astrocytes were randomly divided into control group and injury group which were subjected to (0.2 +/- 0.01) MPa fluid percussion injury. The changes of protein expression pattern in astrocytes between injury and control groups were monitored with two dimensional gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSAstrocytes' s abnonmalities of morphology after injury were apparent. The fluid percussion injury caused astrocytes edema, shrinkage, cell junction disconnection and necrosis at 2 h after injury. 24 h and 48 h after injury, most part of astrocytes's dendrites and soma became hypertrophy and showed a higher rate of cell proliferation. The dynamic proteomics changes were identified and total different 13 spots were detected in this study from the 2DE gels. The different displayed 5 spots were identified via MALDI-TOF: cofilin 1, destrin, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 alpha subcomplex 10, annexin 1.

CONCLUSIONThe obvious alteration of morphology and protein expression pattern in primary cultured astrocytes could be induced after fluid percussion injury. The differential proteins detected were probably related to stress responses.