Nestin expression and proliferation of ependymal cells in adult rat spinal cord after injury / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine cell proliferation and nestin expression in the ependyma of adult rat spinal cord after injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat spinal cord injury models were established by aneurysm clip compression, and nestin expression and proliferation of ependymal cells at different times were shown with pathological and immuno-histochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ependymal cells adjacent to the injured site demonstrated a dramatic increase in nestin expression 24 hours after compression. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen was positive, and significant proliferation was observed after 7 days. Nestin expression was down regulated as time went by.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Normally quiescent mature ependymal cells appear to revert to an embryonic state in response to spinal cord injury.</p>