Nitric oxide synthase gene expression in injured spinal cord tissue / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate gene expression of three nitric oxide synthase isozymes in injured spinal cord tissue.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six adult SD rats were randomly divided into six groups a normal group and five injury groups, with six per each group. Animals in the injury groups were sacrificed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after injury. A compression injury model on the spinal cord was made according to Nystrom B et al and gene expression of the three NOS isozymes were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gene expression of nNOS and eNOS were detectable in the normal group and were up-regulated quickly after injury, reaching a maximum at 6 h (0.633 +/- 0.012) and (1.236 +/- 0.207). Gene expression of iNOS was detectable only in the injury groups and it was gradually up-regulated after injury, reaching a maximum at 24 h (1.043 +/- 0.049).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Injury to the spinal cord leads to early up-regulation of cNOS and late up-regulation of iNOS. Different NOS isozymes may play different roles in secondary spinal cord injury.</p>