Abstract: Objective:To investigate the changes of the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β),interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/P65 nuclear transcription factor-κB (P65NF-κB) signaling pathways in the cerebral cortex tissue of the mice with heat stroke,and to elucidate its mechniasm. Methods:A total of 60 mice were randomly divided into control group, heat stroke 1 h group,heat stroke 6 h group, and heat stroke 24 h group(1, 6, and 24 h after leaving warehouse in the heat stroke model mice), and there were 15 mice in each group. HE staining was used to detect the morphology of cerebral cortexy tissue of the mice in various groups; the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in cerebral cortex tissue of the mice in various groups were measured by ELISA method;the expression levels of P38MAPK, P65NF-κB, p-P38MAPK and p-P65NF-κB proteins in cerebral cortex tissue of the mice in various groups were determined by Western blotting method. Results:Compared with control group, the body mass loss of mice in heat stroke groups was increased (P<0.05),and the anal temperatures of the mice in heat stroke 1 h group and heat stroke 6 h group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The HE staining results showed that the cerebral cortex tissue of the mice in control group were normal;in heat stroke 1 h group, a large number of brain cells were pyknosisd and stained darkly,the blood vessels were compressed and deformed, and a large number of edema was found outside the wall;in heat stroke 6 h group,the number of pyknosisd cells was decreased, and the extravascular edema was reduced;in heat stroke 24 h group,the pyknosisd brain cells and the extravascular edema were rare.Compared with control group, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and the expression levels of p-P38MAPK and p-P65NF-κB proteins in cerebral cortex tissue of the mice in heat stroke 1 h group and 6 h group were increased (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and the expression levels of p-P38MAPK and p-P65NF-κB proteins in cerebral cortex tissue of the mice in heat stroke 6 h group were lower than those in heat stroke 1 h group (P<0.05). Conclusion:The levels of inflammatory cytokines in cerebral cortex tissue of the mice with heat stroke are elevated,and the P38MAPK/P65NF-κB signaling pathway is activated. This inflammatory response of central nervous system may be related to the activation of signaling pathways.

Key words: heat stroke, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear transcription factor-κB