[Effects of high dose methylprednisolone on cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression after acute spinal cord injuries in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of high dose methylprednisolone (MP) on cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression after acute spinal cord injury (ASCI).


METHODS
The 48 female rats were randomly divided into two groups:control group and experimental group. The spinal cord of rats were wounded at the level of T9,10 in moderate degree for each group. Thirty minutes after ASCI, the subjects in experimental group received MP injection through intraperitoneal with dosage of 30 mg/kg. Then a dosage of 5.4 mg/kg of MP was given through intraperitoneal injection every hour in 24 hours. The subjects in the control group received Normal Saline instead of MP with the same method. The impaired spinal cords were harvested on 4 h, 8 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after injury,and at each time point 4 rats were sacrificed in each group. The terminal deoxynucleotidal transferase-mediated DUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical measurement were used to observe neural apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression.


RESULTS
Apoptosis cells were noted primarily at 4 h after injury, with a maximum presence in lesion center at 8 h. The apoptotic index of MP-treated group had distinctly less than that of control group in 8 h, 1 d and 3 d after trauma. The Bcl-2 increased in the experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of the high dose methylprednisolone (MP) can inhibite the apoptosis after acute spinal cord injury in rats and increase the expression of Bcl-2.
Ma
Li-Jie
LJ
Department of Orthopaedics, the North of China Coal Medical College, Tangshan 063000, Hebei, China. malijie126@126.com
Zhang
Jun-Jun
JJ
Wu
Hoo-Tian
HT
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D008775:Methylprednisolone