Experimental Study of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone for the Treatment of Acute Spinal Cord Injury / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To confirm the therapeutic effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) on the experimental spinal cord injury. Method: Wistar rats were subjected to incomplete spinal cord injury using the modified Allen method. The effects were observed by means of neurologic scoring, quantitative enzyme histocytoehemistry、quantitative immunohistocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: 1) The treated group exhibited significantly higher scores than the control group. 2) Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity of anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control group invarious time, and its activity restored to normal level two weeks after injury; Acid phosphatase(AePase) activity was lower than that of the control group in various time. and its activity restored to normal level four weeks after injury. The content of Nissl's bodies in anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control goup one week after injury. 3)The number of axon in a certain area of spinal white matter in the treated group was more than that of the control group. 4)Ultrastructural observation showed that both the nerve tissue injury and the extent of hemorrhage were milder in the treated group than that of the control group. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of TRH on the spinal cord injury" are shown not only in the improving recovery of motor function, but also in the morphology.