Expression of GAP-43 mRNA and protein following brachial plexus avulsion injury / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate the expression of GAP-43 mRNA and protein of the motor neurons in spinal cord following the brachial plexus avulsion injury.METHODS: In the present study,three kinds of models of brachial plexus avulsion injury were made right C7 anterior root avulsion(group A),C7 anterior root avulsion with right C5-T1 posterior roots breaking(group B),right C7 anterior root avulsion with hemi-transect between C5 and C6 segment of spinal cord(group C).The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in anterior horn of spinal cord was detected at 14 days after operation by SYBR green quantification RT-PCR technique.The amounts of GAP-43 positive neurons in spinal cord were detected at 1,3,7 and 14 days after operation by immunohistochemistry technique.RESULTS: In control group,the expression of GAP-43 mRNA was very low in anterior horn.By 14 days after operation,the expression of GAP-43 mRNA was evidently up-regulated compared with control group.GAP-43 positive neuron was observed in control group at 1st day and 3rd day after operation.GAP-43 positive neurons appeared at 7th day and peaked at 14th day after operation.The expression of GAP-43 mRNA and protein were maximum in group C,group B was the lowest.CONCLUSION: The expression of GAP-43 mRNA and GAP-43 protein were up-regulated following brachial plexus injury.The expression of GAP-43 protein results from the recombination of proteins.GAP-43 is closely related to the axon regeneration and functional reconstruction.