G‐CSF administration attenuates brain injury in rats following carbon monoxide poisoning via different mechanisms

Acute severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning induces hypoxia that leads to cardiovascular and nervous systems disturbances. Different complex mechanisms lead to CO neurotoxicity including lipid peroxidation, inflammatory and immune‐mediated reactions, myelin degeneration and finally neuronal apoptosis and necrosis. Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is considered to be a novel neuroprotective agent. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of G‐CSF therapy on CO neurotoxicity in rats with acute CO poisoning. Rats were exposed to 3000 ppm CO in air (0.3%) for 1 h, and then different doses (50,100, and 150 µg/kg) of G‐CSF or normal saline were administrated intraperitoneally. Water content of brain as an indicator for total edema and blood brain barrier integrity (Evans blue extravasation) were evaluated. Malondialydehyde was determined in order to evaluate the effect of G‐CSF on CO‐induced lipid peroxidation in brain tissues. Also, the effect of G‐CSF on myeloperoxidase activity in the brain tissue was evaluated. The effect of G‐CSF administration on induced apoptosis in the brain was measured using TUNEL method. To evaluate the level of MBP, STAT3 and pSTAT3 and HO‐1 proteins and the effect of G‐CSF on these proteins Western blotting was carried out. G‐CSF reduced water content of the edematous poisoned brains (100 µg/kg) and BBB permeability (100 and 150 µg/kg) (P < 0.05). G‐CSF (150 µg/kg) reduced the MDA level in the brain tissues (P < 0.05 as compared to CO poisoned animals). G‐CSF did not decrease the MPO activity after CO poisoning in any doses. G‐CSF significantly reduced the number of apoptotic neurons and Caspase 3 protein levels in the brain. Western blotting results showed that G‐CSF treatment enhanced expression of HO‐1 and MBP, STAT3 and pSTAT3 proteins in the brain tissues. Based on our results, a single dose of G‐CSF immediately after CO poisoning significantly attenuates CO neurotoxicity via different mechanisms. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 37–47, 2017.