title: Valproic acid protects neurons and promotes neuronal regeneration after brachial plexus avulsion.
abstract: Valproic acid has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote neurite outgrowth in several peripheral nerve injury models. However, whether valproic acid can exert its beneficial effect on neurons after brachial plexus avulsion injury is currently unknown. In this study, brachial plexus root avulsion models, established in Wistar rats, were administered daily with valproic acid dissolved in drinking water (300 mg/kg) or normal water. On days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after avulsion injury, tissues of the C5-T1 spinal cord segments of the avulsion injured side were harvested to investigate the expression of Bcl-2, c-Jun and growth associated protein 43 by real-time PCR and western blot assay. Results showed that valproic acid significantly increased the expression of Bcl-2 and growth associated protein 43, and reduced the c-Jun expression after brachial plexus avulsion. Our findings indicate that valproic acid can protect neurons in the spinal cord and enhance neuronal regeneration following brachial plexus root avulsion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Dianxiu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Shusen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui
keywords: Bcl-2; GAP-43; brachial plexus root avulsion; c-Jun; grants-supported paper; neural regeneration; neuronal regeneration; neurons; neuroprotection; neuroregeneration; peripheral nerve injury; spinal cord; valproic acid