Effects of nerve growth factor on neuronal nitric oxide production after spinal cord injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the protective effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on injured spinal cord.


METHODS
The spinal cord injury (SCI) model of Wistar rats was established by a 10 gx2.5 cm impact force on the T(8) spinal cord. NGF (60 microg/20 microl) was given to the rats of the treatment group immediately and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours after SCI. The level of neuronal constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ncNOS) and the expression of ncNOS mRNA in the spinal cord were detected by the immunohistochemistry assay and in situ hybridization method.


RESULTS
Abnormal expression of ncNOS was detected in the spinal ventral horn motorneuron in injured rats. The levels of ncNOS protein in the NGF group were significantly lower than those in the normal saline group (P<0.05 ). The ncNOS mRNA expression was found in the spinal ventral horn motorneuron in injured rats and the expression in the NGF group was significantly decreased compared with that in the normal saline group (P<<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
NGF can protect the injured tissue of the spinal cord by prohibiting abnormal expression of nitric oxide synthase and the neurotoxicity of nitric oxide.
Tang
Changhua
C
Department of Orthopedics, Sihong County People's Hospital, Sihong 223900, Jiangsu Province, China. tangch168@sohu.com
Cao
Xiaojian
X
Wang
Daoxin
D
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat