Expression of neurofilament in injured spinal cord zone in response to olfactory ensheating cell transplantation combined with methyprednisolone / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament in the region of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) of rats after olfactory ensheating cells (OECs) transplantation combined with methyprednisolone administration and investigate the molecular mechanisms of OECs transplantation combined with methyprednisolone administration in promoting the recovery of the spinal cord.Methods Acute spinal cord injury was established in SD rats ( T10 ) by using NYU instrument. The rats were randomly divided into control group, SCI group, DF12 group, OECs transplantation group,methyprednisolone administration group and OECs + methyprcdnisolone group. The mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament in the SCI regions of rats in different groups at different time points were detected by using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results A significant increase of mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament could be found in the other five groups compared with the control group at days 7, 14 and 28 after SCI. The mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament in the injury region of the OECs group, the methyprednisolone group and the OECs + MP group were more significantly increased than that of the SCI group and the DF12 group. The expression of the neurofilament in the injury region of the OECs + MP group was more significantly increased than that of the OECs group and the MP group ( P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions OECs transplantation or methyprednisolone administration can induce the mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament. Meanwhile, OECs transplantation combined with methyprednisolone administration can significantly increase the mRNA and protein expressions of the neurofilament, as may be one of mechanisms promoting spinal cord repair.