Fig. 2

ω-3 PUFA supplementation protects neurons against TBI-induced neuronal apoptosis in the lesioned cortex 7 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 (39.19% ± 4.72% vs 73.42% ± 9.36%, 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 (47.72% ± 6.90% vs 81.41% ± 9.78%, p < 0.05). Representative photomicrographs of TUNEL-positive neurons are shown (× 400); 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