The Role of Progesterone in the Regulation of miR-30a and miR-143 in Rat Models of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Study of Dose-Related Effects

INTRODUCTION: Brain damage in the early-period after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a significant cause of mortality; however, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory cascades play roles in preventing. This study aimed to determine the effect of progesterone on miR-30a and miR-143 expressions after SAH. METHODS: The research was conducted on 40 Sprague-Dawley rats. They were assigned to four groups: Group 1 with SAH (n=10); Group 2, SAH+8mg progesterone (n=10); Group 3, SAH+10mg progesterone (n=10); and Group 4, the controls (n=10). Experimental SAH was created by cisternal injection model. RNAs were isolated from brain tissues and miRNA expression levels were determined by Quantitative Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: There was a 176-fold and 126-fold decrease in miR-30a and miR-143 expressions of male rats with SAH (p<0.05). In the male rats administered with 8 mg and 16 mg progesterone, 39-fold and 2.4-fold decreases were found in miR-30a expressions (p<0.05). In the expression levels, there were a 2.3-fold decrease and a 15-fold increase in miR-30a and miR-143 in females (p<0.05). In the female rats administered with 8 mg and 16 mg progesterone, a 1.25-fold increase and 4.5-fold decrease were found in miR-30a expressions (p<0.05); however, 1400-fold and 400-fold increases were found in miR-143 expressions (p<0.05) on the females with 8 mg and 16 mg progesterone. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The decrease in miR-30a and miR-143 expressions in the males with SAH approached the normal limits by increasing doses of progesterone. We think that the molecular basis of this dose-dependent effect of progesterone in miR-30a and miR-143 expressions should be investigated in further studies.