[Changes in expression of SP in spinal lamina II following hemisected spinal cord injury in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes in expression of Substance P (SP) in spinal lamina II at different time following hemisected spinal cord injury (hSCI).


METHODS
Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into intact group and hSCI group at days 3, 7 and 21. The spinal cords were hemisected between T13 and L1. The animals were sacrificed 3, 7, 21 days after operation. The L3 segments were taken out and sectioned continuously into sections (20 microm). The expression of SP was measured by immunohistochemical ABC method, and the number of SP positive varicosities in lamina II was counted.


RESULTS
SP positive varicosities were observed in spinal lamina II. Compared with control group, the number of SP positive varicosities on the injured side apparently increased 3 days after hSCI, but decreased 7 days after operation, then recovered to normal by 21 days after operation. Noteworthily, the number of SP positive varicosities on the intact side was higher than that on the injured side.


CONCLUSIONS
SP, as a neurotransmitter of nociceptive information, may be related to the process of hSCI.
Zhao
Xiu-jun
XJ
Department of Histology, Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Wei
W
Wang
Ting-hua
TH
Zhang
Lian-shuang
LS
Xu
Xin-yun
XY
Zhou
Xue
X
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D013373:Substance P