Fig 1.
VF, ventricular fibrillation; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; ROSC, restoration of spontaneous circulation.
Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
Fig 2.
Overall performance category scores.
Neurologic outcome was evaluated based on Overall Performance Category scores in the NT (n = 12) and HT (n = 12) groups. A score of 1 represents normal, whereas a score of 5 indicates brain death. Values are given as the median ± interquartile range. ROSC, restoration of spontaneous circulation; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group. #P<0.05 versus NT group.
Fig 3.
BL, baseline; SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group.
Fig 4.
Cortical tissue water content at 24 hours after CA and resuscitation.
Brain oedema was calculated as cortical tissue water content in the SC (n = 4), NT (n = 5), and HT (n = 7) groups. Data are presented as means ± sd. SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group. *P<0.05 versus SC group; #P<0.05 versus NT group.
Fig 5.
Blood–brain barrier permeability in cortical tissues at 24 hours after CA and resuscitation.
Blood–brain barrier permeability was quantitatively evaluated via leakage of Evans blue in the SC (n = 4), NT (n = 4), and HT (n = 4) groups. Data are presented as means ± sd. SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group. **P<0.01 versus SC group; ##P<0.01 versus NT group.
Fig 6.
Occludin, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin mRNA expression in cortical tissues at 24 hours after CA.
The mRNA levels were quantified via real-time PCR in the SC (n = 4), NT (n = 5), and HT (n = 7) groups, and the data were normalized to GAPDH levels. The fold changes in occludin, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin mRNA expression were calculated relative to the expression levels in the SC group, and the results are presented as the mean fold changes ± sd relative to the SC group. SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 versus SC group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 versus NT group.
Fig 7.
Occludin, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin protein expression in cortical tissues at 24 hours after CA.
Western blotting (left) was used to measure occludin, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin protein levels in the SC (n = 4), NT (n = 5), and HT (n = 7) groups. The IOD of each band was measured using Gel-pro Analyzer software. Occludin, claudin-5, ZO-1, and VE-cadherin levels were normalized to GAPDH levels, and the results are presented as the mean ± sd. SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group. **P<0.01 versus SC group; ##P<0.01 versus NT group.
Fig 8.
VEGF, Ang-1 and MMP-9 protein expression in cortical tissues at 24 hours after CA.
The expression of VEGF, Ang-1 and MMP-9 was measured by western blotting (left) in the SC (n = 4), NT (n = 5), and HT (n = 7) groups. VEGF, Ang-1 and MMP-9 levels were normalized to β-actin and are presented as the mean ± sd. SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group, HT, mild hypothermia group; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; Ang-1, angiogenin-1; MMP-9, matrix metalloproteinase-9. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 versus SC group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 versus NT group.
Fig 9.
TEM observation of ultrastructural alterations in cortical tissues 24 hours after CA and resuscitation.
Normal TJs, basement membranes and neuronal mitochondria were observed in the SC group (A, D, G). In the NT group, the TJs were obscure, and the basement membranes were disrupted; moreover, neuronal mitochondria were markedly swollen, with disrupted cristae (B, E, H). In the HT group, the TJs and basement membrane were continuous, and neuronal mitochondria were slightly damaged, with normal cristae (C, F, I). SC, surgery control group; NT, non-hypothermia group; HT, mild hypothermia group; TJ, tight junction; BL, basement membrane; MIT, mitochondria. Scale bars = 2 μm.