Fig. 2

ω-3 PUFA supplementation protects neurons against TBI-induced neuronal apoptosis in the lesioned cortex 3 day after TBI. a, b The sham group and the sham + ω-3 PUFA group had very low fractions of apoptotic neurons. The percentage of apoptotic cells was higher in the TBI group than in the sham group (p < 0.05); the apoptotic fraction was significantly lower in the TBI + ω-3 PUFA group than in the TBI group (42.49 ± 6.53% vs. 66.23 ± 8.46%, p < 0.05). Representative photomicrographs of Nissl-stained neurons are shown; arrows indicate apoptotic neurons. c Western blot analyses revealed that TBI resulted in the upregulation of apoptotic factors in the cortex; however, compared with the TBI group, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax levels were decreased, whereas the anti-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2, was increased in TBI + ω-3 PUFA group (p < 0.05). d TUNEL staining demonstrated that TUNEL-positive neurons were significantly decreased in the TBI + ω-3 group compared with the TBI group (43.32 ± 6.03% vs. 69.03 ± 7.31%, p < 0.05). Representative photomicrographs of TUNEL-positive neurons are shown; arrows indicate apoptotic neurons. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 6 per group). N.S., p > 0.05, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Scale bars = 50 μm