[Rescue of motoneuron from brachial plexus nerve root avulsion induced cell death by Schwann cell derived neurotrophic factor].
OBJECTIVE
To study the protective effects of Schwann cell derived neurotrophic factor (SDNF) on motoneurons of spinal anterior horn from spinal root avulsion induced cell death.


METHODS
Twenty SD rats were made the animal model of C6.7 spinal root avulsion induced motoneuron degeneration, and SDNF was applied at the lesion site of spinal cord once a week. After three weeks, the C6.7 spinal region was dissected out for motoneuron count, morphological analysis and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme histochemistry.


RESULTS
68.6% motoneurons of spinal anterior horn death were occurred after 3 weeks following surgery, the size of survivors was significantly atrophy and NOS positive neurons increased. However, in animals which received SDNF treatment, the death of motoneurons was significantly decreased, the atrophy of surviving motoneurons was prevented, and expression of NOS was inhibited.


CONCLUSIONS
SDNF can prevent the death of motoneurons following spinal root avulsion. Nitric oxide may play a role in these injury induced motoneuron death.
Liu
L J
LJ
Department of Microsurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China 510080.
Zhu
J K
JK
Xiao
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors