ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: To determine the levels of spinal cord injury (SCI) on free insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) content in the bladder and the possible role of free IGF-1 in growth in hypertrophic bladders in an experimental model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The contents of free IGF-1 and protein in paraplegic and non-paraplegic rats which was induced experimentally by SCI were measured. The wet weights of the bladders were also determined. The results gained were compared. RESULTS: The mean bladder free IGF-1 level in paraplegic rats was significantly higher than the corresponding bladder free IGF-1 level in sham-operated bladder (p<0.05). Mean wet weight bladder in paraplegic rats was significantly higher than the sham-operated rats (p<0.05). Paraplegic bladder had a significantly higher mean protein content than the sham-operated bladder (p<0.05). Serum free IGF-1 levels in the two groups were not different. CONCLUSION: Our pilot study reveals that free IGF-1 may be effective in SCI.
