Expression and role of type I collagen in a rat spinal cord contusion injury model.
To verify the expression of type I collagen after SCI and discuss its role and cellular origin, a standardized animal model of contusive spinal cord injury (SCI) was analyzed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injured at T11/12 and sacrificed at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after injury. The spinal cord was removed en block for both Western blotting and RT-PCR in order to verify expression of type I collagen. For immunohistological examination, those sections were stained with anti-type I collagen, RECA-1 and anti-rat prolyl-4-hydroxylase. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-type I collagen and RECA-1. Those sections were examined with an electron microscope. Western blots for type I collagen were positive, as was the gene expression of type I collagen mRNA. Type I collagen after SCI was observed around blood vessels in the ventral white matter of the spinal cord 4 weeks after injury in double-labeling immunohistological examination and electron microscopic images. Immunohistochemical expression of fibroblast was increased 4 weeks after injury. This study revealed the post-SCI expression of type I collagen around blood vessels. Type I collagen may play a role in angiogenesis after SCI. Fibroblasts may produce type I collagen in rat spinal cord.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Maiko
M
Okada
Osamu
O
Miyamoto
Sei
S
Shibuya
Xia
X
Zhang
Tetsuji
T
Yamamoto
Toshifumi
T
Itano
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D024042:Collagen Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase