title: Neuroprotective Effects of Direct Intrathecal Administration of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date, no reliable methods have proven effective for treating spinal cord injury (SCI). Even systemic administration of methylprednisolone (MP) remains controversial. We previously reported that intrathecal (i.t.) administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves outcome after experimental spinal cord ischemic insults in rats. The present study aimed to examine the neuroprotective efficacy of i.t. G-CSF or MP in rats with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female rats were subjected to spinal cord contusion injury at T10 using NYU impactor. We i.t. administered G-CSF (10 μg) or MP (one bolus of 100 μg, followed by 18 μg/h infusion for 23 h) immediately after SCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both G-CSF and MP significantly improved the rats' motor function after SCI. Immunofluorescence staining revealed suppressed expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (neurocan and phosphacan), OX-42 and tumor necrosis factor alpha after i.t. G-CSF, but not MP, in rats with SCI. In addition, G-CSF significantly decreased the expression of astrocytic TGF-β1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein around the injury site. Furthermore, rats with G-CSF treatment showed increased neurofilament expression beyond the glial scars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct i.t. administration of G-CSF provides a promising therapeutic option for SCI or related spinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Department of Neurosurgery, Xiamen Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Xiamen, China.|Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wu-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nan-Fu
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D058580:Neurocan; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; C539091:Ncan protein, rat; D058580:Neurocan; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5
keywords: G-CSF; Intrathecal; Methylprednisolone; Spinal cord injury; Transforming growth factor