title: Treatment with nerve grafts and aFGF attenuates allodynia caused by cervical root transection injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nerve root traction injuries induce spinal cord inflammation and lead to neuronal death within days. In the present study, we examined the inflammatory response one week after multiple cervical root transections.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the transection group, the left cervical roots (C6-8) of rats were cut at the spinal cord junction. In the repair group, transected roots were repaired with nerve grafts and the subsequent application of aFGF and fibrin glue. A sham group had nerve roots exposed without transection. Mechanical allodynia and spinal glial responses were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allodynia did not differ between the treatment groups on day 2. Rats with transected spinal nerve roots had significantly more allodynia by 7 days, which was associated with IL-1β expression in dorsal and ventral horn astrocytes, and microglia activation. Repair of nerve roots with autologous intercostal nerve grafts and FGF in fibrin glue attenuated the allodynia, reduced IL-1β expression in astroctyes and reduced microglia activation, along with a significant increase in arginase I expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated a correlation between an increased number of IL-1β-positive astrocytes and the development of allodynia. Our treatment significantly decreased IL-1β-positive astrocytes, thus preventing the occurrence of neuropathic pain following multiple cervical root injuries.
authors.affiliation: Neural Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Lo
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Huai-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ming-Jei
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: May-Jywan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Meng-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Yang-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Henrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ming-Chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C113162:Arg2 protein, rat; D001119:Arginase