The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dynamic protein expression of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB and apoptosis in the cerebral tissue surrounding hematoma following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. A total of 80 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into a sham‑surgery group and an ICH group. The ICH model was established by injecting autogenous non‑heparin anticoagulant arterial blood into the caudate putamen. NF‑κB levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry at different time points subsequent to surgery, and apoptosis condition was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl‑transferase‑mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Different levels of NF‑κB were expressed in the cerebral tissue around the ICH at each time point in the ICH group. NF‑κB protein expression was detected at 3 h following hemorrhage, mainly in the cytoplasm. Following 6 h, NF‑κB was identified in the nucleus. Its expression peaked at 72 h following hemorrhage, and persisted for 5 days. Apoptosis was observed 6 h following hemorrhage, and had increased significantly by 12 h. The rate of apoptosis continued to rise from 72‑120 h following hemorrhage. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between NF‑κB expression and apoptosis (r=0.753; P<0.01). The enhancement of NF‑κB expression and apoptosis around ICH, and the significant positive correlation between NF‑κB expression and apoptosis, indicates that NF‑κB activation may enhance cerebral apoptosis in rats following ICH.

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