[Changes in number of EGF positive neurons in ventral horn and contralateral cortex motor area of rhesus after hemisection spinal cord injury].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes in the amount of epidermal growth factor (EGF) immunopositive neurons in ventral horn and contralateral cortex motor area of rhesus following hemisection spinal cord injury (hSCI).


METHODS
Eighteen adult healthy rhesus were randomly divided into six groups: Sham-operation group; Day 7, Day 14, Month 1. Month 2 and Month 3 hemisection spinal cord injury groups. In the hSCI groups, the monkeys were subjected to left hemisection of T11 spinal cord, and then were put to death at the corresponding time after operation. The rostral part 5 mm proximal to the lesioned point of spinal cord and the caudal part 5 mm distal to the lesioned point were taken from each monkey. The contralateral cortex motor area was taken out, too. Frozen sections were incubated in specific polyclonal anti-EGF antibody; the immunohistochemical SP method was adopted in the study.


RESULTS
In 3 months after hSCI, the number of EGF immunopositive neurons in the ventral horn of spinal cord near the lesion and in the contralateral cortex motor area of brain decreased as compared with those of the sham-operation group (P<0.05). The number of positive neurons decreased first, then came back, and later after hSCI, decreased again (P<0.05). Besides this, the number of positive neurons varied in different parts at the same time point.


CONCLUSIONS
The EGF immunopositive neurons decreased apparently in the ventral horn of spinal cord near the lesion and in the contralateral cortex motor area in 3 months after hSCI. Hemisection spinal cord injury affected the expression of EGF for motor neurons in ventral horn on the lesioned side as well as on the intact side. Early after hSCI the number of positive neurons decreased sharply and then came back spontaneously in the ventral horn of spinal cord near the lesion and in the contralateral cortex of brain.
Lu
Yong-chao
YC
Department of Histology Embryology and Neurobiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Qi
Jian-guo
JG
Zhou
Xue
X
Wang
Ting-hua
TH
Feng
Zhong-tang
ZT
D000818:Animals; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor