ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Peripheral nerve regeneration depends on gene regulation by central neurons. To search for more effective treatment methods to improve the regeneration of wounded peripheral nerves, gene expression profile of spinal cord after firearm injury to rabbit sciatic nerves are studied with DNA micro-array technique.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 54 rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: Groups d1, d3, d7 and normal control group. Lumbar spinal cords were sampled. RNA and mRNA were extracted, labeled by Cy3 and Cy5, and analyzed by mouse_8192S gene chips.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1367, 923, and 61 genes with differential expression were found on day 1, day 3, and day 7 after trauma respectively. Five expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences demonstrated differential expression during 7 days after trauma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is complex gene profile with differential expression after firearm nerve injury, among which AW701496, U84291, W13926, X04017 and AW822394 EST sequences may be important regulation factors that involved in regeneration of peripheral nerve injury.</p>