[Protective effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on motor neurons after peripheral nerve injury].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) on spinal motor neurons after peripheral nerve injury.


METHODS
Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups, the right sciatic nerves of 20 Wistar rats were transected, the proximal stumps were inserted into a single blind silicone tube. 16 microliters of normal saline(NS) and TNF-alpha(30 U/ml) were injected into the silicone tubes. After 2 weeks, the 4th, 5th lumbar spinal cord were taken for examination. Enzyme histochemical technique and image analysis were used to show acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity of spinal motor neurons.


RESULTS
The number of AChE and NOS staining neurons were 8.65 +/- 1.98 and 5.92 +/- 1.36 in the experimental group and 6.37 +/- 1.42 and 8.67 +/- 1.45 in the control group respectively, there were significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
It suggests that TNF-alpha has protective effect on motor neurons after peripheral nerve injury.
Chen
Z B
ZB
Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan Hubei, P. R. China 430022.
Hong
G X
GX
Wan
F B
FB
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase