ABSTRACT
Objective To measure the level of diamine oxidase (DAO), and observe the intestinal motor and mucosal barrier injury after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods A total of 45 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into SCI group (group A, n=15), sham group (group B, n=15) and control group (group C, n=15). SCI model was established with Allen's strike mode (10 g × 25 mm) by striking T10 spinal segment in rats. One day, three days and seven days after SCI, hind limb motor function was assessed with Basso-Beat-tie-Bresnahan (BBB) Scale in each group, the myoelectric slow wave and ileum smooth muscle contractility were measured in rats, ileum tis-sues were tested with HE staining, and the DAO content of serum was tested with ELISA kit. Results One day, three days and seven days af-ter SCI, the BBB score was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (P0.05). Group A showed ileal mucosal edema, lodging, inflammatory cell infiltration, and submucosal gap increase. The Chiu's score of intestinal mucosal injury was higher in group A than in groups B and C (P0.05). Conclusion Serum DAO content may respond to the intestinal motor function and mu-cosal injury after acute SCI in rats.