Lectin-like　oxidized　low-density　lipoprotein　(oxLDL)　receptor-1　(LOX-1)　was　originally　identified　as　a　receptor　for　oxLDL　predominantly　expressed　in　endothelial　cells.　Recently　up-regulation　of　LOX-1　has　been　implicated　in　oxidative　stress　and　cell　apoptosis　in　many　cell　types.　However,　LOX-1　expression　in　neurons　or　regulation　of　neuronal　apoptosis　by　LOX-1　has　not　been　reported.　To　investigate　the　possible　roles　of　LOX-1　in　hypertension　induced　brain　damage,　we　examined　the　distribution　of　LOX-1　in　cortex　and　hippocampus　and　compared　its　expression　in　32-week-old　SHR　and　WKY　rats.　Immunofluorescence　revealed　that　LOX-1　positive　cells　were　located　principally　at　the　cortex　involved　in　sensory　information　processing　and　were　mainly　expressed　in　neurons.　We　also　found　up-regulated　mRNA　expression　of　LOX-1,　Bax　and　caspase-3　and　down-regulated　mRNA　expression　of　Bcl-2　in　SHR　group.　Compared　with　WKY　group,　SHR　group　showed　increased　LOX-1　positive　cells　and　TUNEL　positive　cells.　Furthermore,　double-labeling　method　indicated　that　LOX-1　expression　was　colocalized　with　TUNEL　positive　cells,　which　means　that　LOX-1　expression　was　involved　in　hypertension　related　cell　apoptosis.　These　findings　indicated　that　LOX-1　expression　was　up-regulated　in　the　cortex　of　SHR　and　its　expression　has　implication　in　neuronal　apoptosis.　Elevated　Bax/Bcl-2　ratio　may　be　involved　under　this　event.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.