ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate effect of ischemic pretreatment on expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and injury of spinal cord in canine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourty-one canine were divided into three groups: the sham-operative group, the pretreatment group and the control group. In the pretreatment group aorta was obstructed for 6 min, and then was opened for 6 min, this procedure was repeated twice, finally aorta was obstructed for 35 min. In the control group aorta was obstructed for 35 min. Nervous function were assessed and HSP70 expression were detected in tissue of spinal cord.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the pretreatment group, HSP70 expressed in cytoplasm and nucleus at 6, 24 hour after reperfusion, and intensity of HSP70 expression was stronger than that in the control group; The score of nervous function in the pretreatment group was higher than that in the control group. On 7 day after reperfusion the score of nervous function in pretreatment group had no obvious variation, and HSP70 expression was still observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ischemic pretreatment can improve ischemic tolerance of spinal cord; HSP70 expression in cytoplasm and nucleus may play a role in ischemic tolerance.</p>