title: [Effect of curcumin on calcitionin gene related peptide expression after spinal cord injury in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of curcumin on calcitionin gene related peptide (CGRP) expression after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 rats, weighing 250-300 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 50): sham-operation group, normal saline (NS) group, low-dose curcumin group (30 mg/kg), and high-dose curcumin group (100 mg/kg). In sham-operation group, only vertebral lamina excision was performed without SCI; the SCI model was established in the other 3 groups. At immediate after modeling, 30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg curcumin were injected intraperitoneally in 2 curcumin groups, equivalent NS was given in NS group (30 mg/kg), but no treatment in sham-operation group. At 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after operation, the motor neural function was evaluated by the inclined plane test and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores; immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay were used to observe CGRP expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BBB score and inclined plane test score of NS group, low-dose curcumin group, and high-dose curcumin group were significantly lower than those of sham-operation group at each time point (P < 0.05). BBB score of low-dose curcumin group and high-dose curcumin group was significantly higher than that of NS group at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after SCI (P < 0.05), and the score of high-dose group was significantly higher than that of low-dose curcumin group at 7, 14, and 21 days after SCI (P < 0.05). Inclined plane test score of low-dose curcumin group and high-dose curcumin group was significantly higher than that of NS group at 7, 14, and 21 days after SCI (P < 0.05), and the score of high-dose curcumin group was significantly higher than that of low-dose curcumin group at 7, 14, and 21 days after SCI (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the CGRP positive cells of sham-operation group was significantly more than those of the other 3 groups, and the CGRP positive cells of high-dose curcumin group were significantly more than those of low-dose curcumin group at each time point (P < 0.05); the CGRP positive cells of low- and high-dose curcumin groups were significantly more than those of NS group at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after SCI (P < 0.05). Western blot assay results showed that the CGRP protein expressed at each time point after SCI in sham-operation group; the CGRP protein expression gradually decrease with time passing in NS group; but the CGRP protein expression gradually increased with time passing in low- and high-dose curcumin groups, and reached the peak at 14 days, then maintained a high level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After SCI in rats, 30 mg/kg curcumin can improve rats' motor function, and 100 mg/kg curcumin effect is more obvious, especially in promoting the expression of CGRP. That may be the mechanism of protection of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Basic Medicine, Luohe Medical College, Luohe Henan 462002, PR China.
authors.forename: Danhua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Basic Medicine, Luohe Medical College, Luohe Henan 462002, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009043:Motor Activity; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003474:Curcumin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide