ABSTRACT
Objective T o investigate the tim e-dependent expression of m etallothionein (M T ) 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A in contused skeletal m uscle of rats. Methods A total of 54 Sprague-D aw ley rats w ere used in this study. T he rats w ere divided into tw o parts:control group (n=6) and contusion groups (0.5, 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h after contusion, n=6). T otal R N A w as extracted from skeletal m uscle. T he expression levels of M T 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A w ere detected by SY B R G reen I real-tim e PC R . Results T he expression trends of the tw o potential m arker genes w ere related to w ound age. In ad-dition to 0.5 h, there w ere significant contrasts betw een the control group and contused group (P<0.05), about the expression levels of M T 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A in different phases. A s the extension of w ound age, the relative expression of M T 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A at 1 h, 6 h, 12 h and 18 h after contusion dem onstrated upgrade tendency until its expression levels in 18 h peak w ith 239.41±15.20 and 717.42 ±50.76, respectively. W hen tim e extends to 24 h after injury, the expression of above tw o m arks decreased, respectively. T he M T 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A expression levels increased at 30 h and then decreased. Conclusion D eterm ination of M T 1A m R N A and M T 2A m R N A levels by real-tim e PC R m ay be useful for the estim ation of w ound age.